Abstract
Hyperactivation and aggregation of platelets play a major role in thrombosis and hemostasis.
The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated
fatty acids (PUFAs) on platelet function. Light transmission aggregometry and flow
cytometric analyses of platelet activation and platelet–leukocyte aggregates were
determined at baseline and after 4 weeks of omega-3 (docosahexaenoic acid 520 mg and
eicosapentaenoic acid 120 mg) supplementation. In total, 40 healthy subjects and 16
patients with a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) completed the study. In healthy
subjects, omega-3 PUFA significantly reduced adenosine diphosphate (ADP)–induced (maximum
amplitude, 77.0% ± 3.2% vs. 71.6% ± 3.4%, p = 0.036; maximum slope, 86.3 ± 1.8 vs. 80.7 ± 2.1, p = 0.014) and adrenaline-induced platelet aggregation (maximum slope, 42.8 ± 2.7 vs.
37.4 ± 3.0, p = 0.013; lag time, 00:21 ± 00:02 vs. 00:31 ± 00:03 s, p = 0.002). Omega-3 PUFA also reduced P-selectin expression (40.5% ± 2.9% vs. 34.4% ± 2.4%,
p = 0.049) on platelets and platelet–monocyte aggregates (38.5% ± 2.6% vs. 31.4% ± 2.5%,
p = 0.022) after activation with ADP 0.5 µM. There were fewer changes in platelet aggregation
and activation found in subjects with CVD. Nevertheless, there was a reduction in
the slope of arachidonic acid–induced platelet aggregation (13.21 ± 6.41 vs. 4.88 ± 3.01,
p = 0.009) and increased lag time for U46619 (00:16 ± 00:00 vs. 00:29 ± 00:07 s, p = 0.018) induced platelet aggregation. Thus, 4-week supplementation of 640 mg omega-3
PUFA reduced measures of platelet aggregation and activation in healthy subjects but
effects were less evident in patients with existing CVD. Our findings support the
recommendation that the omega-3 PUFA dose be higher in CVD than among healthy subjects.
Keywords
cardiovascular disease - omega-3 PUFA - platelet activation - platelet aggregation
- thrombosis
