This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Data Supplement All Versions of this Article: 24/9/1734    most recent 01.ATV.0000137119.28893.0bv1 Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vanschoonbeek, K. Articles by Heemskerk, J. W.M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vanschoonbeek, K. Articles by Heemskerk, J. W.M. Related Collections Coagulation Fibrinogen/fibrin Thrombin

(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2004;24:1734.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.

Thrombosis

Variable Hypocoagulant Effect of Fish Oil Intake in Humans

Modulation of Fibrinogen Level and Thrombin Generation

Kristof Vanschoonbeek; Marion A.H. Feijge; Martine Paquay; Jan Rosing; Wim Saris; Cornelis Kluft; Peter L.A. Giesen; Moniek P.M. de Maat; Johan W.M. Heemskerk

From the Departments of Human Biology (K.V., M.P., W.S., J.W.M.H.), Biochemistry (M.A.H.F., J.R., J.W.M.H.), and Synapse (P.L.A.G.), Nutrition and Toxicology Research and Cardiovascular Research Institutes of Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht; Gaubius Laboratory (C.K.), TNO-PG, Leiden; Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam (M.P.M.d.M.), Dr. Molewaterplein, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Correspondence to Dr J.W.M. Heemskerk, Department of Biochemistry, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. E-mail JWM.Heemskerk{at}bioch.unimaas.nl

Objective— The beneficial effect of dietary fish oil, rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), on cardiovascular disease is multifactorial and may partly rely on their anticoagulant action. We studied how fish oil intake influenced thrombin generation in plasma and which factors were involved herein.

Methods and Results— Twenty-five healthy males with borderline overweight received 3.0 g omega-3 PUFAs daily for 4 weeks. Fish oil intake reduced plasma triglycerides and lowered platelet integrin activation, as well as plasma levels of fibrinogen and factor V, but had no effect on vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors. Before fish oil intake, thrombin generation (reflecting the coagulant potential) considerably varied between plasmas from individual subjects, which were partly explained by variation in prothrombin, antithrombin, fibrinogen, and factor V levels. Fish oil intake reduced thrombin generation in the presence and absence of platelets. This reduction correlated with the fish oil effect on fibrinogen and factor V levels. Interestingly, the lowering effect of fish oil on thrombin generation and fibrinogen clustered around subjects with high fibrinogen carrying a structural fibrinogen -chain polymorphism.

Conclusions— Dietary omega-3 PUFAs provoke a hypocoagulant, vitamin K-independent effect in humans, the degree of which may depend on fibrinogen level.

Intake of fish oil reduced fibrinogen and factor V levels as well as thrombin generation in plasma. The effects on thrombin generation and fibrinogen clustered around subjects with high fibrinogen carrying -chain fibrinogen polymorphism. Thus, dietary fish oil can provoke a hypocoagulant effect depending on the fibrinogen level.

Key Words: coagulation • factor V • fibrinogen • fish oil • thrombin generation

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Vanschoonbeek, K. Wouters, P. E.J. van der Meijden, P. J. van Gorp, M. A.H. Feijge, M. Herfs, L. J. Schurgers, M. H. Hofker, M. P.M. de Maat, and J. W.M. Heemskerk Anticoagulant Effect of Dietary Fish Oil in Hyperlipidemia: A Study of Hepatic Gene Expression in APOE2 Knock-in Mice Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, November 1, 2008; 28(11): 2023 - 2029. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. McKenney and D. Sica Prescription omega-3 fatty acids for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm., March 15, 2007; 64(6): 595 - 605. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Vanschoonbeek, M. A. H. Feijge, W. H. M. Saris, M. P. M. de Maat, and J. W. M. Heemskerk Plasma Triacylglycerol and Coagulation Factor Concentrations Predict the Anticoagulant Effect of Dietary Fish Oil in Overweight Subjects J. Nutr., January 1, 2007; 137(1): 7 - 13. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]