Abstract
Objective
Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce platelet and endothelial activation
in patients with or at risk of cardiac disease. We aimed to determine if Omega-3 fatty
acid supplementation in addition to best medical therapy can reduce the increased
platelet and endothelial activity that is present in patients with intermittent claudication.
Methods
One hundred and fifty patients who were receiving aspirin and statin therapy were
recruited into a randomised cross-over double blind study involving 6 week supplementation
with OMACOR fish oil (850–882 mg eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid) versus placebo. A 12 week washout period
occurred between treatments. Patients with diabetes were excluded. For each outcome
a random effects model was fitted in which treatment and period were fixed effects
and patients were random effects.
Results
Omega-3 supplementation had no effect on the primary outcome measure von Willebrand
factor. Similarly Omega-3 supplementation resulted in no change in unstimulated or
stimulated P-selectin expression and fibrinogen binding, or platelet aggregation (ultegra
point of care). Pulse wave velocity was also unchanged. High-sensitivity C-reactive
protein, s-ICAM and IL-6 were also unchanged.
Conclusion
Supplementation with Omega-3 fatty acids had no affect on platelet and endothelial
activation or markers of inflammation in patients with peripheral arterial disease.
Highlights
- Patient's with intermittent claudication have increased platelet and endothelial activity.
- We performed a cross-over double blind study of 6 week of OMACOR fish oil versus placebo.
- Omega-3 supplementation had no effect on the primary outcome measure von Willebrand factor.
- Omega-3 supplementation had no effect on pulse wave velocity.
- Omega-3 supplementation did not alter platelet aggregation or expression of markers of activation.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 01, 2012
Accepted:
December 28,
2011
Received in revised form:
December 13,
2011
Received:
October 5,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
