![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
Background. Intake of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA) either from natural sources or dietary supplementation is inversely associated with atherothrombosis.
Aim. A double‐blind pilot study was designed to address the impact of n‐3 PUFA on atherosclerosis, haemostasis and vascular status in patients with combined hyperlipoproteinemia.
Methods. Carotid intima‐media thickness (C‐IMT), texture of intima‐media complex (T‐IMC), lipids and platelet function were evaluated in 64 patients with combined hyperlipoproteinemia who received placebo or n‐3 PUFA (6 g/day) for 2 years. C‐IMT and T‐IMC were assessed by B‐mode ultrasound. Lipids and platelet function were determined by validated methods.
Results. C‐IMT increased in placebo, but not in n‐3 PUFA group with respect to baseline. In contrast T‐IMC decreased in n‐3 PUFA, but not in placebo; in both cases, however, treatment effect did not reach statistical significance. A fall of triglycerides, concomitant to a rise of high‐ and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL and LDL), was observed in the active treated group. Platelet function was significantly reduced by n‐3 PUFA.
Conclusions. Results show a favourable effectiveness of n‐3 PUFA on IMT progression and T‐IMC that deserves to be confirmed in larger studies. Despite the small sample size, the beneficial effect of n‐3 PUFA on platelet function, triglycerides and HDL‐C is clearly highlighted.
| Abbreviations | ||
| n‐3 PUFA | = | n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids |
| C‐IMT | = | carotid intima‐media thickness |
| T‐IMC | = | texture of intima‐media complex |
| CAD | = | coronary artery disease |
| EPA | = | eicosapentaenoic acid |
| DHA | = | docosahexaenoic acid |
| CC | = | common carotid |
| Bif | = | bifurcation |
| ICA | = | internal carotid artery |
| Mean‐IMT | = | mean intima‐media thickness of the whole carotid tree |
| ROI | = | region of interest |
| AC50 | = | collagen concentration inducing 50% decrease of optical density in platelet‐rich plasma |
| Abbreviations | ||
| n‐3 PUFA | = | n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids |
| C‐IMT | = | carotid intima‐media thickness |
| T‐IMC | = | texture of intima‐media complex |
| CAD | = | coronary artery disease |
| EPA | = | eicosapentaenoic acid |
| DHA | = | docosahexaenoic acid |
| CC | = | common carotid |
| Bif | = | bifurcation |
| ICA | = | internal carotid artery |
| Mean‐IMT | = | mean intima‐media thickness of the whole carotid tree |
| ROI | = | region of interest |
| AC50 | = | collagen concentration inducing 50% decrease of optical density in platelet‐rich plasma |
Acknowledgements
The study was supported by Institut De Recherche Pierre Fabre, Departement Recherche Clinique. The sponsor had no role in the collection, interpretation of data, in the writing of the report or in the decision to submit the report for publication.
We appreciated the expertise of Professor C. Galli for fatty acid analyses.