Effect Of A Fish Oil On Blood Lipids And Coagulation

• Published in: Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Oral Presentations
• Main Authors: Saynor, R, Verel, D
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: Schattauer GmbH 1981
• Subjects: eskimo*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0038-1652143; http://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/s-0038-1652143.pdf

Considerable evidence lias accumulated on the association between abnormal lipoprotein patterns and ischaemic heart disease. There is suggestive evidence that prolonged byper- lipidaemia may cause an increased tendency to thrombosis as a result of a number of factors. The Eskimo diet of marine animals is high in elcosapentaenoio acid (EPA) and it is possible that the low incidence of nyocardial infarction in this race is due to diet. The high intake of SPA by Eskimos is probably the reason for their increased tendency to bleed. The present study was designed to observe the effectiveness of a fish oil high in EPA as a lipid-lowering agent, and its effect on coagulation. Of the 18 subjects in the study 6 were volunteers with no evidence of heart disease- the remaining 12 were attending hospital with angina or post-myocardial infarction. One of this group had undergone a coronary artery by-pass graft operation. Venous blood was taken after a 12-14 hour fast and the subjects instructed to take 10ml of fish oil twice daily with meals. No modification of their normal diet was attempted. A further blood sample was taken 6 weeks later and at 3 months in 5 subjects. Laboratory investigations included blood cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (CHDL;, bleeding time, platelet count and agpegation, antithrombin III, fibrinogen, thrombin time partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin ratio. At six weeks the cholesterol fell lqy an average of 6.3% and triglyceride 36.8% but CHDL was raised 12.4%. The 3 month levels (5 subjects) were cholesterol - 9.2%, triglyceride - 52.1% and CHDL + 16.9%. There were no significant changes observed in the coagulation parameters measured. From the foregoing it would appear that supplementing the diet with fish oil has a desirable effect on blood lipids but at this dose does not influence coagulation.