[Comparison of the effect of linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid on prostaglandin biosynthesis and thrombocyte function in humans]

Cis-unsaturated fatty acids and platelet function

The main method to study platelet function in dietary studies has been the platelet aggregation test in vitro. Even though it is well established that dietary cis-unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) modify platelet aggregation some uncertainty still exists how to interpret the in vitro results in the context of a situation in vivo. The other ways to look at platelet activation are measurements of thromboxane metabolites in urine or the concentration of beta-thromboglobulin (betaTG) released from alpha-granules. Dietary fish oil or long-chain n-3 FAs lower the high basal excretion rate of thromboxane, while only a modest effect is noticed at a low basal excretion rate. Results on the effects of other cis-unsaturated FAs on urinary TXB2 metabolites are almost totally lacking. Furthermore, platelet betaTG release in vivo does not seem to be affected by changes in dietary FAs. The regulatory function of dietary FAs in platelets is extremely complex, and clearly more should be understood about the association between dietary FAs and platelet membrane FAs in connection with platelet responses to physiological stimuli and subsequent signal transduction inside the platelets.

[In vitro studies of the effect of different mixture proportions of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on thrombocyte aggregation and thromboxane synthesis in human thrombocytes]

In order to estimate the influence of the tested fatty acids on platelet aggregation, synthesis of prostaglandin E and thromboxane B in vitro, platelet rich plasma (PRP) was incubated with the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), with linoleic acid as representative of the omega-6 fatty acids, as well as with mixtures of EPA and DHA and all fatty acids, resp., with and without addition of alpha-tocopherol. For the determinations, platelets were prepared from blood of young adult male volunteers (age 26.6 +/- 8 years). Platelet aggregation and synthesis of thromboxane were measured after 30 and 60 min of incubation. Smoking habits were not regarded. The incubation of platelets with DHA and EPA itself, as well as the mixture of fatty acids dominated by omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3/omega-6 = 15/1) caused a significant decrease (p less than 0.05) of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Tocopherol, linoleic acid, and the linoleic-acid-rich mixtures (omega-3/omega-6 = 1/4) caused only a slight inhibition of platelet aggregation. No uniform influence of omega-3 fatty acids could be observed that showed their influence on synthesis of thromboxane to be of importance for the promotion of platelet aggregation. EPA and the mixture of EPA and DHA did decrease thromboxane synthesis significantly (p less than 0.05). On the other hand, single incubation with DHA as well as with linoleic acid rich mixtures caused a statistically not significant increase of rate of the synthesis, which did not increase the aggregation. This observation indicates the formation of less effective TXA3. An influence of tocopherol could also not be observed.

Effects of dietary fish oil supplementation on platelet aggregability and platelet membrane fluidity in normolipemic subjects with and without high plasma Lp(a) concentrations

The purpose of this study was to compare the relative effect of n-3 fatty acids on plasma lipids and platelet function in normolipemic subjects (n = 8) with plasma Lp(a) levels greater than 30 mg/dl and normolipemic subjects (n = 7) without detectable plasma Lp(a) concentrations. Six weeks of dietary supplementation (3.8 g EPA and 2.9 g DHA/d) significantly reduced (P less than 0.005) plasma TGs in both groups whereas no changes of plasma TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and Lp(a), respectively, were found. Collagen- or thrombin-stimulated platelet aggregation and collagen- or thrombin-induced TXB2 generation from platelets decreased by approx. 45% in Lp(a)-negative and Lp(a)-positive platelet donors after a 6 week dietary intake. Four more weeks without n-3 supplementation restored the pretreatment values of TGs, platelet aggregability and TXB2 release. The biophysical properties of platelets from normolipemics with and without high plasma Lp(a) concentrations revealed a similar structural order of platelets at 37 degrees C using DPH, TMA-DPH, or 6-AS as fluorescent probes. Also similar temperature-dependent changes in platelet fluidity from 37 degrees C to 17 degrees C were observed in platelet preparations from Lp(a)-positive and Lp(a)-negative subjects. However, no subtle changes in the structural order of platelets due to nutrient intakes were found in all subjects (n = 15, 19-28 yrs) using fluorescence polarization technique. The present data suggest a similar in vitro platelet behaviour from normolipemic subjects with and without high plasma levels of Lp(a) (which is considered a risk for premature atherosclerosis) in contrast to platelet aggregability and platelet fluidity in certain hyperlipidemic stages.

Lipids and thrombosis

There is extensive evidence of important interactions between plasma lipoproteins and platelet function. Some population groups, particularly hypercholesterolaemic patients, have strong evidence of abnormal platelet function which is mediated by the binding of lipoproteins, especially oxidized LDL, to surface receptors. Additionally, abnormal plasma lipid levels precipitate membrane composition changes by increasing the cholesterol:phospholipid ratio. The resulting changes in microviscosity seem to affect transmembrane signalling and might in some cases influence receptor binding. This not only has important therapeutic implications with regard to lipid-lowering drug therapy but also with regard to the potential beneficial effects of dietary therapy.