Effects of purified eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on platelet, fibrinolytic and vascular function in hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients.
BACKGROUND
Type 2 diabetes and hypertension are both associated with an increased risk of atherothrombosis. We assessed whether purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from fish oil have differential effects on platelet, fibrinolytic and vascular function in patients with both conditions.


METHODS
In a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of parallel design, 59 treated-hypertensive Type 2 diabetic men and postmenopausal women, were randomised to 4 g/day of EPA, DHA or olive oil (placebo) for 6 weeks. Collagen and PAF-stimulated platelet aggregation, collagen-stimulated thromboxane release (TXB2), plasma tPA and PAI-1 antigens, von Willebrand factor, p-selectin, and flow-mediated and glyceryl-trinitrate-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, were examined before and at the end of intervention.


RESULTS
Thirty-nine men and 12 women aged 61.2+/-1.2 year completed the study. Relative to placebo, DHA but not EPA supplementation significantly reduced collagen aggregation (16.9%, P=0.05) and TXB2 (18.8%, P=0.03). There were no significant changes in either PAF-stimulated platelet aggregation, fibrinolytic function or vascular function in either the EPA or DHA group relative to placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Highly purified DHA may be a more effective anti-thrombotic agent than EPA. However, longer-term studies assessing morbidity and mortality are needed in order to establish if DHA contributes to reducing CHD amongst Type 2 diabetic patients with treated hypertension.
Woodman
Richard J
RJ
Department of Medicine, Medical Research Foundation Building, The University of Western Australia, PO Box X2213, Perth, WA 6000, Australia. rwoodman@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Mori
Trevor A
TA
Burke
Valerie
V
Puddey
Ian B
IB
Barden
Anne
A
Watts
Gerald F
GF
Beilin
Lawrence J
LJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*
D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid