Summary
We have studied the dose-response effects of dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated
fatty acids (n-3 PUFA’s) on lipids and haemostasis. Ten healthy males were each given
1.3 g,4 g or 9 g of n-3 PUFA’s daily for 6-week periods. Bleeding time, HDL-cholesterol
and plasminogen activator inhibitor increased with the dose of n-3 PUFA. Plasma fibrinogen
and triglyceride levels were reduced in a dose-dependent fashion.
After ingestion of 1.3 g of n-3 PUFA’s plasma fibrinogen decreased from 9 to 7 μmol/l
and HDL-cholesterol increased from 1.2 to 1.3 mmol/l. The bleeding time was prolonged
from 5 to 6.5 min while triglyceride levels decreased from 1.2 to 0.9 mmol/l after
ingestion of 4 g of n-3 PUFA’s. Dietary supplementation with the highest daily dose
(9 g) reduced plasma levels of triglycerides, fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor,
while bleeding time, plasminogen activator antigen, plasminogen activator inhibitor
and the ratio of HDL-cholesterol to total cholesterol increased.
Keywords
n-3 fatty acids - Fish oil - Dose-response - Lipids - Haemostasis
