Effect of n‐3 fatty acids on carotid atherosclerosis and haemostasis in patients with combined hyperlipoproteinemia: A double‐blind pilot study in primary prevention

Figures & data

Table I. Characteristics of the patients at baseline.

	Placebo (n = 32)	n‐3 PUFA (n = 32)
Males (%)	29 (90.6)	29 (90.6)
Age (y)	53.7±6.9	53.7±7.2
Weight (kg)	72.6±9.6	72.1±7.6
Body mass index (kg/m^2)	25.1±2.3	25.0±2.4
Smokers (%)	9 (28.1)	9 (28.1)
No‐smokers (%)	9 (28.1)	9 (28.1)
Former smokers (%)	14 (43.8)	14 (43.8)
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	129.0±13.1	128.7±13.8
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	76.3±8.3	78.4±7.2
Heart rate (b/min)	67.6±5.7	67.7±6.8
Total cholesterol (mmol/L)	6.47±0.64	6.32±0.53
LDL (mmol/L)	4.0±0.66	3.89±0.58
HDL (mmol/L)	1.05±0.15	1.06±0.24
Triglycerides (mmol/L)	3.12±0.85	3.06±0.77
Platelet aggregation (AC50; μg/mL)	0.37±0.26	0.30±0.17
Platelet thromboxane B2 (ng/mL)	194.7±68.4	214.3±69.6
CC‐IMT (mm)	0.65±0.09	0.67±0.01
Bif‐IMT (mm)	0.98±0.28	0.91±0.25
ICA‐IMT (mm)	0.76±0.21	0.73±0.17
Mean‐IMT (mm)	0.83±0.16	0.79±0.15

Data are reported as means±SD. No difference between groups has been observed by Student's t‐test (normally distributed variables) or by Wilcoxon's test. (CC = common carotid; Bif = bifurcations; ICA = internal carotid artery; IMT = intima‐media thickness)

Figure 1. Frequency distribution of plasma eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) after 24 months of treatment.

Figure 2. Effects of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA) on platelet aggregation (Panel A) and platelet thromboxane B₂ synthesis (Panel B). Data are expressed as changes with respect to baseline. (*P_within<0.01; #P_between<0.05; ##P_between<0.01).

Table II. Intima‐media thickness (IMT) progression in n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA) and placebo groups.

	Placebo (n = 27)		n‐3 PUFA (n = 30)		Treatment effect
	Slope	Pwithin	Slope	Pwithin	Change	Pbetween
CC‐IMT (µm/y)	1.4±0.4	0.002	0.9±0.4	0.02	−0.5	ns
Bif‐IMT (µm/y)	2.2±0.9	0.02	0.3±0.9	ns	−1.9	ns
ICA‐IMT (µm/y)	1.7±0.7	0.05	1.3±0.7	ns	−0.4	ns
Mean‐IMT (µm/y)	1.6±0.6	0.01	0.9±0.6	ns	−0.7	ns

Data are reported as means±SEM. Between groups differences are analysed by covariance analysis. (CC = common carotid; Bif = bifurcation; ICA = internal carotid artery; P_within = statistical significance versus the baseline values; P_between = statistical significance between the two groups evaluated after data adjustment for baseline.)

Table III. Effect of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA) on ultrasound video‐densitometry of right common carotid intima‐media thickness (CC‐IMT) segments.

	Placebo (n = 27)		n‐3 PUFA (n = 30)		Treatment effect
	Differences between 24^th month and baseline	Pwithin	Differences between 24^th month and baseline	Pwithin	Change	Pbetween	Pbetween^a
First‐order parameters (IMT mean grey level)
Arithmetic mean	2.65±4.31	0.544	−6.80±4.95	0.180	−9.45	0.111	0.105
Std deviation	−2.19±2.05	0.293	−6.87±2.24	0.005	−4.68	0.092	0.319
Second‐order parameters (IMT heterogeneity)
Entropy	−0.34±0.20	0.038	−0.34±0.11	0.004	0.00	0.668	0.420
Contrast	−76.9±178	0.668	−480±238	0.050	−403	0.131	0.603
Second angular moment (10^−2)	−0.03±0.07	0.068	0.03±0.01	0.011	0.06	0.508	0.302

Data are reported as means±SEM. The treatment effect was analysed with analysis of covariance. (P_within = statistical significance versus the baseline values; P_between = treatment effect.) ^aSignificances evaluated after data adjustment for baseline values.