In Vivo Indexes of Platelet and Vascular Function during Fish-Oil Administration in Patients with Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Populations that consume a diet rich in marine lipids may have a lower risk of atherosclerotic disease. Fish oil contains the N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoate, and the biosynthesis of thromboxanes and prostacyclins from eicosapentaenoate (thromboxane A₃ and prostaglandin l₃), rather than from the usual precursor arachidonate (thromboxane A₂ and prostaglandin l₂), may help to reduce the risk. To examine this hypothesis, we studied the effect of eicosapentaenoate supplementation (10 g per day) for one month on the synthesis of thromboxanes and prostacyclins, as assessed by urinary metabolite excretion, in six patients with peripheral vascular disease and seven normal controls.