Thromb Haemost 1999; 82(01): 128-133
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1614641
Rapid Communication
Schattauer GmbH

Persistent Impairment of Platelet Aggregation following Cessation of a Short-course Dietary Supplementation of Moderate Amounts of N-3 Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters

Anna Maria Cerbone
1   From the Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Italy
,
Ferdinando Cirillo
1   From the Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Italy
,
Antonio Coppola
1   From the Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Italy
,
Patrizia Risè
2   Istituto di Scienze Farmacologiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
,
Eduardo Stragliotto
3   Medical Dept, Pharmacia and Upjohn Italy
,
Claudio Galli
2   Istituto di Scienze Farmacologiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
,
Mauro Giordano
4   Cattedra di Gerontologia e Geriatria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy
,
Elena Tremoli
2   Istituto di Scienze Farmacologiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
,
Giovanni Di Minno
4   Cattedra di Gerontologia e Geriatria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 02 October 1997

Accepted after resubmission 22 January 1999

Publication Date:
11 December 2017 (online)

Summary

The duration of the effect of a short-course (1-mo twice-daily) supplementation of moderate amounts (2.28 g) of n-3 fatty acid ethyl esters (FA) on platelet lipid composition and aggregation was compared with that of olive oil (3 g/d) supplementation in 14 healthy volunteers. The FA preparation employed contained eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) in a ratio of 1:1.4. A marked rise (p <0.05) in the plasma and platelet content of EPA and DHA, and minimal changes in the content of arachidonic acid (AA) were documented at withdrawal of the n-3 FA supplementation. EPA/AA and DHA/AA ratios in platelet phospholipids showed that the FA accumulation persisted 8-12 wks after stopping the supplementation (p <0.05). The aggregation of platelets in response to collagen or ADP, and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) formation were impaired at withdrawal. The impaired aggregation lasted 8-12 weeks (p always <0.05), whereas TXB2 formation returned to basal values 4 weeks after stopping the n-3 supplementation. No correlation was found between impaired aggregation and TXB2 formation. In contrast, the impaired sensitivity to ADP (p = 0.036) and, to a lesser extent, to collagen (p = 0.068) were related to changes in the intracellular pH (pHi) of the Na+/H+ reverse transport. No changes in platelet composition or function were observed either during or following olive oil supplementation. These results document a long-lasting impairment of platelet sensitivity to ADP and collagen; changes in the pHi values of the Na+/H+ reverse transport, and a simultaneous persistent accumulation of EPA and DHA in platelet phospholipids, after stopping a short-course dietary supplementation of moderate amounts of n-3 fatty acid ethyl esters.

 
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