A comparison of the influence on plasma lipids and platelet function of supplements of ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Abstract

1. A randomized double-blind crossover trial was carried out to compare the influence on plasma lipid concentrations, platelet thromboxane B2production and platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen and U46619 (a prostaglandin endoperoxide analogue), of a daily 10 g supplement of a fish-oil concentrate (MaxEPA), which provided (g): 1·7 20:5ω3, 0·3 22:5ω3 and 1·2 22:6ω3, taken for 2 weeks by ten healthy subjects, with one of vegetable oil providing 3·4 18:2ω6.2. A lower response to platelet aggregation induced by 0·5 μg collagen/ml but not by other aggregating agents was observed following both types of supplement. Platelet thromboxane B2production induced by collagen also tended to be lower following the supplements.3. Plasma total cholesterol concentrations were unaffected by the supplements. The MaxEPA but not the vegetable-oil supplement lowered the concentration of plasma triglycerides and increased that of high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol.