Summary
Plasma lipids and haemostasis were investigated in 17 patients with hyperlipidaemia
before and after 6 weeks supplementation with 6 g n-3 fatty acids. Nine of the patients
had type IIa and 8 had type IV hyperlipidaemia. No effect on plasma cholesterol, LDL-
or HDL-cholesterol were seen, but plasma triglycerides decreased after n-3 supplementation.
Apolipoprotein B increased and apolipoprotein A1 decreased after the oil supplement. The bleeding time was prolonged, but platelet
aggregation was unaltered by n-3 fatty acids. Protein C activity increased in type
II a and decreased in type IV after the supplement. Fibrinolysis was markedly depressed
while von Willebrand factor antigen was reduced after intake of n-3 fatty acids.
Keywords
n-3 fatty acids - Fish oil - Lipids - Haemostasis - Fibrinolysis