Effect of the administration of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on circulating levels of microparticles in patients with a previous myocardial infarction

Abstract

BackgroundIncreased levels of microparticles exposing tissue factor circulate in the blood of patients with coronary heart disease, possibly disseminating their pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory potential. Because diets rich in n-3 (polyunsaturated) fatty acids have been associated with reduced incidence of coronary heart disease-related events, we investigated the in vivo effects of treatments with n-3 fatty acids on levels of circulating microparticles and their tissue factor-dependent procoagulant activity in patients with a previous myocardial infarction.

An Intravenous Bolus of Epa

“…Interestingly, we have shown that CD54 + endothelial MPs were significantly decreased in rats infused with an Omega-3 bolus before reperfusion, reflecting the decreased endothelial cell activation and/or endothelium protection, as we had reported during sepsisinduced endothelial dysfunction (15,16). Our results are consistent with previous data showing that longterm Omega-3 supplementation improves endothelial function in the healthy population or in patients with cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease (22,23), as well as with studies showing decreased endothelial MP generation without platelet MP alteration (24).…”

“…Del Turco et al (24) had shown that both platelet MP number and activity were decreased in patients supplemented with Omega-3 for 12 weeks after a myocardial infarction. However, Phang et al (28) later showed that a single dose of EPA in healthy people reduced platelet MP activity, possibly due to EPA incorporation into the platelet membrane, without altering platelet MP count, which is consistent with our previous data (26,27).…”

Acute supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid reduces platelet microparticle activity in healthy subjects

“…No other studies have investigated the differential effects of LCn-3PUFA supplementation on platelet MP in healthy individuals; however, combined EPA/DHA supplementation in patients with previous myocardial infarction has been shown to significantly reduce both the number and procoagulant activity of plateletderived MPs over a 12-week period [43]. It is possible that while MP activity can be immediately reduced via incorporation of LCn-3PUFA into the platelet membrane, the production of MPs may take longer to stabilize.…”

Risk of post-procedural bleeding in children on intravenous fish oil

“…Changes induced by O3FA at the membrane and intracellular levels also lead to inhibited platelet function through augmentation of the negative surface charge density, modulation of signal-transduction molecules, and decreased adhesiveness and granule secretion 5,18–20 . The inhibitory effect of O3FA on pro-coagulant platelet- and monocyte-derived microparticles has also been described in specific situations 21,22 . Additionally, EPA and DHA can decrease platelet-mediated thrombin generation, thereby acting indirectly on the coagulation cascade 23 .…”