Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 1998;18:316-322

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Turpeinen, A. M.
Right arrow Articles by Mutanen, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Turpeinen, A. M.
Right arrow Articles by Mutanen, M.
(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 1998;18:316-322.)
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.


Original Contributions

Similar Effects of Diets Rich in Stearic Acid or trans-Fatty Acids on Platelet Function and Endothelial Prostacyclin Production in Humans

Anu M. Turpeinen; Joachim Wübert; Antti Aro; Reinhard Lorenz; ; Marja Mutanen

From the Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology (Nutrition), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (A.M.T., M.M.); the Institut für Prophylaxe und Epidemiologie der Kreislaufkrankheiten, Munich, Germany (J.W., R.L.); and the Department of Nutrition, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland (A.A.).


*    Abstract
up arrowTop
*Abstract
down arrowIntroduction
down arrowMethods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Abstract—The effects of stearic acid (C18:0) and trans-fatty acids (trans-FAs) on measures of platelet function and prostacyclin (PGI2) production are poorly understood in humans. In this controlled dietary study, platelet function and endothelial PGI2 production were studied in healthy humans after they consumed diets rich in C18:0 or trans-FAs. For 5 weeks, 80 subjects consumed a baseline diet high in saturated FAs and were then switched to a diet containing 9.3% of energy as stearic acid or a diet containing 8.7 energy% as trans-FAs from hydrogenated vegetable oils for another 5 weeks. All diets contained 32.2 to 33.9 energy% fat, 14.6 to 15.8 energy% saturated plus trans-FAs, 12.2 to 12.5 energy% cis-monounsaturated, and 2.9 to 3.5 energy% polyunsaturated FAs. No significant differences between the C18:0 and trans-FA diets were found in the urinary excretion of 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B2 or 2,3-dinor-6-keto-prostaglandin F1{alpha}. In vitro production of thromboxane B2 by platelets as well as urinary excretion of ß-thromboglobulin were also similar after both diets. Collagen-induced in vitro aggregation was significantly enhanced after the C18:0 diet compared with the trans-FA diet (P=.02), whereas no differences between the diets were found with ADP. The results indicate similar effects of C18:0 and trans-FA diets on platelet activation and endothelial PGI2 production.


Key Words: stearic acid • trans-fatty acids • platelet activation • 2,3-dinor-TXB2 • 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1{alpha}


*    Introduction
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
*Introduction
down arrowMethods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Strong evidence from human dietary intervention studies suggests that trans-FAs have unfavorable effects on risk factors for coronary heart disease. Studies that have mainly focused on lipoprotein metabolism have mostly shown increased LDL1 2 3 and decreased HDL1 2 concentrations after consumption of diets with varying amounts of monounsaturated trans-FAs. Increased lipoprotein(a) concentrations have also been reported,3 4 although this observation has not been consistent.5 6 Still, data on the thrombogenic properties of these FAs are mostly based on animal studies or in vitro studies with isolated cells. In rats, trans-FAs have inhibited thromboxane production7 and either inhibited8 or had no effect9 on platelet aggregation.

It is apparent that stearic acid has a different cholesterolemic effect than other long-chain saturated FAs. Regarding lipoprotein metabolism, stearic acid has been considered neutral with respect to total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, although HDL cholesterol has decreased in some studies.10 11 12 Whether stearic acid can also be considered neutral with respect to its thrombotic effects is unclear. Evidence from human epidemiological and animal studies suggests that stearic acid enhances platelet aggregation in vitro, indicating its effects on platelet activity, an important aspect of thrombosis and hemostasis.13 14 15 In vivo indices of platelet activation have been measured in only one human study, in which thromboxane or prostacyclin synthesis did not change after a diet rich in stearic acid.16

In mixed diets, trans-FAs are mainly substituted for saturated FAs, not for liquid oils. The purpose of our study was therefore to compare the atherogenic and thrombogenic properties of stearic acid and trans-monounsaturated FAs in a strictly controlled way in healthy subjects. The results on lipids and lipoproteins17 as well as coagulation and fibrinolysis factors18 have been published previously. This article discusses the effects of stearic acid and trans-FAs, especially those on platelet function, as measured by several in vivo and in vitro parameters as well as those on endothelial cell PGI2 production.


*    Methods
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
*Methods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Subjects
Altogether 80 healthy volunteers, 49 female and 31 male, entered the study after giving their informed consent. Of the female participants, one was postmenopausal. The baseline characteristics of the subjects are indicated in Table 1Down. The subjects were screened 1 month before the start of the study. Exclusion criteria were serum cholesterol >7.0 mmol/L, hypertension, anemia, glycosuria, and proteinuria. Nineteen women used oral contraceptives and one man smoked throughout the study. The subjects were asked to keep their smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and physical activity unchanged. They were also advised to refrain from ingestion of aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs known to affect platelet function 2 weeks before blood sampling. Other than free food, the subjects received no payment.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1. Characteristics of the Subjects Before the Study

Study Design
The study protocol was approved by the ethics committees of the University of Helsinki and the National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. The participants were unaware of the diets, and the results of biochemical determinations were not available to the participants before the end of the study. In addition, the laboratory staff was blinded to the subjects' group assignments. During the first 5 weeks of the study, all subjects received a baseline diet rich in saturated FAs, mainly from dairy fat. Thereafter, the subjects were allocated pairwise to either of two groups in the order of their serum cholesterol values: 40 subjects (24 female, 16 male) had a trans-FA diet and the other 40 subjects (25 female, 15 male) a stearic acid diet in a parallel manner for another 5 weeks. On weekdays the subjects had lunch on the university premises and received the food for the rest of the day and the next morning. Food for the whole weekend was provided on Fridays. All food was weighed for each participant. The subjects were weighed twice weekly, and energy intake was adjusted when necessary to avoid weight changes.

Diets
The three diets were designed to comprise similar proportions of energy from fats (33% of energy), carbohydrate (51% of energy ), and protein (16% of energy); similar proportions of cis-monounsaturated FAs and polyunsaturated FAs; and similar amounts of cholesterol. The diets differed only with respect to the composition of saturated and trans-FAs. The stearic acid and trans-FA diets contained {approx}9% of energy as these FAs. Mixed solid foods customary in the Finnish diet were used in the experimental diets, covering about 90% of the energy intake per day. In addition to the food supplied, the subjects were allowed to freely choose 10% of their daily energy intake from foods that were free from fat and cholesterol (candies, fruit, beer, etc). The subjects recorded these foods and the consumption of alcohol in their diaries. They also recorded any signs of illness and use of medicines.

Duplicate portions of each diet were collected daily for 1 week in the kitchen by the personnel, pooled for each diet, and analyzed. The analyzed values and those calculated for the free-choice foods were combined, giving the final composition of the diets. The fat in the baseline diet was mainly dairy fat, whereas the trans-FA and stearic acid diets were made up by using special margarines provided by Unilever Research Laboratorium, Vlaardingen, the Netherlands. The fats were used on bread and in bakery products, desserts, and cooking. The margarine high in trans-FAs was produced by partial hydrogenation of high–oleic acid sunflower oil.19 trans-monoenoic FAs were composed of 35% n-10 to n-12 isomers, 22% n-9 (elaidic acid), 19% n-8, 12% n-7, 7% n-6, 5% n-5, and <1% n-4. The margarine high in stearic acid was an inter-esterified mixture of fully hydrogenated high–linoleic-acid sunflower oil and unhydrogenated high–linoleic acid and high–oleic acid sunflower oils.19

Blood and Urine Sampling
Venous blood samples were collected with minimal stasis from fasting (12-hour) subjects in the morning between 7:30 and 9:30 AM twice during the last week of each diet period. Siliconized, evacuated tubes and 20-gauge needles were used. The first 10 mL of blood was used for lipid analyses and the following tubes for platelet FA and platelet aggregation studies. The two samples from each diet period were pooled for analysis of platelet total and phospholipid fraction FA analysis. Platelet aggregation measurements were done from both samples.

At the end of each diet period, the subjects also collected three consecutive 24-hour urine samples in an aliquot cup (K.K. Izumi Seisakusyo Co Ltd). During the collection period the samples were kept refrigerated, and thereafter they were rapidly frozen. Samples from women having their menstruation periods were excluded. The results of all urinary parameters were corrected for creatinine.

Platelet FA Analysis
For the measurement of platelet total and phospholipid fraction FAs, 15 mL of blood was drawn on the same 2 days that samples for platelet aggregation and TXB2 measurements were taken. PRP was separated and centrifuged for 10 minutes at 1000g, and the platelet pellet was resuspended in 1 mL washing buffer (ACD/saline, 15/85 wt%/wt%, pH 7.4).20 The samples were kept frozen at -70°C until analyzed. After the platelet pellets were thawed they were washed twice with buffer, and the two samples from each period were combined to yield the platelets from 30 mL of blood for extraction.

Total lipids were extracted and methylated as described previously.21 22 Phospholipid fractions were separated from the samples of 20 subjects by thin-layer chromatography on precoated silica gel sheets. The chromatograms were developed in a solvent system of chloroform/methanol/acetic acid/water (25:15:4:2, vol/vol/vol/vol). Authentic standards were run on separate lanes. The FA methyl esters were analyzed using a Hewlett-Packard 5890 series II capillary gas chromatograph with a fused-silica capillary column (NB-351, Nordion). The oven temperature was programmed from 170°C to 230°C at a rate of 15°C/min. The amounts of individual FAs were expressed as relative percentages of the total FAs. An FA standard (Nu Chek Prep Inc) was run each day.

Platelet TXB2 and Urinary 2,3-Dinor-TXB2 Measurements
The platelet in vitro production of TXB2 and urinary 2,3-dinor-TXB2 were measured by EIA after sample purification.23 After purification the three urine samples from each subject from each diet period were pooled for analysis of 2,3-dinor-TXB2, and EIA analysis was done from the pooled samples.

EIA Analysis
After purification the metabolites were measured by the solid-phase EIA method of Pradelles et al24 as described previously.25 Canine polyclonal TXB2 antiserum produced in our laboratory was used. All samples from each subject were analyzed in duplicate on the same plate. For the platelet TXB2 analysis, the intra-assay and interassay coefficients of variation were 8.7% and 11.9%, respectively, and for the urinary 2,3-dinor-TXB2 analysis, 6.7% and 14.0%, respectively.

Measurement of Urinary 2,3-Dinor-6-Keto-PGF1{alpha}
Because of the expensive and time-consuming methodology, urine samples from only 24 subjects were analyzed. Urinary 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1{alpha} was analyzed from pooled 24-hour samples collected on 3 days by combined capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry as described previously.26 The trideuterated standard ([2H3]-2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1{alpha}) was purchased from Biomol.

Platelet Aggregation Studies
Blood for platelet aggregation studies was drawn, and PRP was prepared as described earlier.27 Platelets in PRP were adjusted to 250x106/mL with autologous platelet-poor plasma, and the adjusted samples were kept at room temperature until aggregations were performed. Platelet aggregation was measured with the turbidimetric method of Born28 within 2 hours of venipuncture with an Aggre- corder IIPA-3220 aggregometer (Kyoto Daiichi Kagaku Co Ltd). The aggregating agents used were ADP (final concentrations, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 µmol/L PRP; Boehringer Mannheim) and collagen (final concentrations, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 20 µg/mL PRP; Hormon Chemie). The ADP aggregations were followed for 3 minutes and the collagen aggregations for 5 minutes. The rate of aggregation was indicated as the steepest slope of the aggregation curve, as calculated by the aggregometer program (percent aggregation per minute). Samples for TX measurements were taken after exactly 5 minutes from those in the cuvette aggregated by collagen (2.0 and 20 µg/mL), added to tubes containing 50 mmol/L Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7,4), immediately frozen in liquid N2, and stored at -40°C.

Measurement of Urinary ß-TG
For each participant, the three urine samples collected at the end of the diet periods and stored at -20°C were pooled after thawing to yield one sample for each period. HMW ß-TG (which presumably contains intact ß-TG) was separated from low-molecular-weight ß-TG (ie, ß-TG fragments and/or nonspecific interfering compounds) on Sephadex G-25M columns (Pharmacia Fine Chemicals).29 Selective analysis of HMW ß-TG in urine circumvents problems with nonspecific immunoreactivity and apparent interference with measurements of intact ß-TG. HMW ß-TG was analyzed by a commercially available radioimmunoassay kit for ß-TG (IM-88, Amersham). Some modifications in using the kit were done according to the method of Hjemdahl et al29 to increase sensitivity. The intra-assay and interassay variabilities for this method were 4.3% and 9.5%, respectively.

Statistical Analysis
There were no overall sex differences in the results, and thus the data were combined. The data for baseline characteristics were analyzed with the unpaired t test. Differences between experimental diets were analyzed with the general linear models procedure of the Systat 5.2 program30 using treatment and baseline values as covariates. The differences in the effects of the experimental diets on platelet aggregation results were calculated by using a nonlinear model of the BMDP program (version 5) including all concentrations of the aggregating agents. Values for 2,3-dinor-TXB2 and 2,3-dinor-6-keto PGF1{alpha} were logarithmically transformed before testing. Correlation analysis was performed using Pearson correlation tests. Differences with P<.05 were considered significant.


*    Results
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
*Results
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Diets and Dietary Adherence
All of the subjects successfully completed the study. The subjects were weighed twice a week throughout the study, and their weights remained unchanged in both diet groups. The mean daily intake of energy and nutrients is shown in Table 2Down. The intakes of protein, fat, carbohydrate, and cholesterol were similar in all diets, as were the intakes of polyunsaturated FAs, oleic acid, and the sum of saturated and trans-FAs. The stearic acid and trans-FA diets contained 9.3 energy% and 8.7 energy% as stearic acid and monounsaturated trans-FA, respectively, whereas the baseline and stearic acid diets only contained <1 energy% of trans-FA.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 2. Mean Daily Intake of Energy and Nutrients on a 10-MJ Diet, According to Duplicate-Portion Analysis (7-Day Pooled Diet) Plus Calculated Contribution of Freely Selected Items

Dietary compliance, as evaluated by the plasma FA profile, was good.17 During the stearic acid diet, the proportion of stearic acid increased and those of myristic, palmitic, and palmitoleic acids decreased correspondingly. Respectively, the change from the baseline diet to the trans-FA diet increased the proportion of trans-FA sevenfold.

Platelet FAs
In total platelet FAs, a significant difference between the trans-FA and stearic acid diets was found in the proportions of palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, and arachidonic acids (Table 3Down). Our gas chromatography column does not separate trans- from cis-monoenes, and they coeluted with oleic acid. Although the proportions of oleic acid of the baseline and trans-FA diets were practically the same, a highly significant increase in the oleic+trans- fraction after the trans-FA diet (P<.001)was observed, indicating incorporation of trans-FAs into platelet phospholipids. The proportion of stearic acid in platelets was significantly increased after the stearic acid diet (P=.02). Of special interest were the effects of the experimental diets on the proportion of arachidonic acid (C20:4.) No change was found after the stearic acid diet, whereas the trans-FA diet decreased platelet arachidonic acid significantly. There were no significant changes in the proportions of longer-chain FAs (C20:5 and C22:6).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 3. Platelet Total FAs (% of Total FAs) of the Study Subjects [Mean (SD)]

Results for the two main platelet phospholipid fractions, PC and PE, are presented in Tables 4Down and 5Down. Dietary trans-FAs were mainly incorporated into the PE fraction, as the proportion of oleic+trans-FAs was significantly higher after the trans-FA diet than the stearic acid diet (P=.03), whereas the proportions of stearic acid and palmitic acid significantly increased (P=.004 and P=.0002, respectively) in the PC fraction after the stearic acid diet. A strong tendency for arachidonic acid to decrease in PE and increase in PC after the stearic acid diet was noted.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 4. Platelet PC FAs (% of Total FAs) of the Study Subjects [Mean (SD)]


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 5. Platelet PE FAs (% of Total FAs) of the Study Subjects [Mean (SD)]

Platelet Function In Vivo
No difference between the stearic acid and trans-FA diets was seen in the urinary excretion of 2,3-dinor-TXB2 (Table 6Down). To find out whether the use of oral contraceptives had any effect on the results, the data were analyzed separately for those women using oral contraceptives and those who were not. In the users no change was observed in the excretion of 2,3-dinor-TXB2 when they were switched from the baseline to the trans-FA diet (1076 versus 1058 pg/mg creatinine), whereas in the nonusers excretion of this metabolite was significantly increased (931 versus 1455 pg/mg creatinine). The difference between users and nonusers was significant (P=.03).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 6. Urinary Excretion of TX and PGI2 Metabolites (ng/g Creatinine) of the Study Subjects [Mean (SD)]

The effects of the experimental diets on the excretion of the urinary metabolite of PGI2 were also similar (Table 6Up). The TX-to-PG ratio was similarly affected by both diets as well: the ratio was 9.2 during the saturated baseline diet and 12.8 after the stearic acid diet, and 5.8 and 11.1 on the baseline and the trans-FA diets, respectively.

Urinary ß-TG was analyzed from pooled 24-hour urine samples collected on 3 days. The average excretion rates after the baseline and stearic acid diets were 25.3 and 26.6 pg/mL, respectively, and 19.9 and 19.1 pg/mL after the baseline and trans-FA diets, respectively (Table 7Down). The differences between the diet responses were not significant.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 7. Indices of Platelet Activation in the Study Subjects [Mean (SD)]

Platelet Function In Vitro
Platelet aggregation was measured from two samples taken 4 days apart at the end of each diet period, thus minimizing the effect of day-to-day variation in platelet reactivity on the possible differences between the diets. ADP-induced aggregation was decreased after the trans-FA diet, whereas collagen-induced aggregation was enhanced after the stearic acid diet (Table 7Up). The difference between the effects of the stearic acid and trans-FA diets was calculated using a linear model in which all concentrations of the aggregating agent were included and was significant for collagen (P=.02) but not for ADP (P=.17)(Table 7Up).

The capacity of platelets to produce TXB2 during in vitro stimulation was studied with two concentrations of collagen: 2 and 20 µg/mL. Although both concentrations caused maximal platelet aggregation, production of TXB2 was more than threefold higher at 20 µg/mL (65 versus 18 ng/mL), but no significant differences between the stearic acid and trans-FA diets were found for either concentration (Table 7Up).

Correlation Analysis
Excretion of 2,3-dinor-TXB2 was not correlated with changes in platelet total FAs, platelet aggregation, TXB2 production, or urinary ß-TG excretion, nor with the excretion of the corresponding metabolite of PGI2, 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1{alpha}. Urinary ß-TG was not correlated with in vitro aggregation due to ADP or collagen, urinary excretion of 2,3-dinor-TXB2, or changes in platelet total FAs. In both the stearic acid and trans-FA groups, collagen aggregation was significantly correlated with TXB2 production at a concentration of 20 µg/mL (P=.007 to .03), but not at 2 µg/mL (P=.143 to .615). Collagen aggregation was also significantly correlated with total platelet arachidonic acid content (r=0.4, P=.03) after the trans-FA diet, but there were no significant correlations between arachidonic acid and aggregation results after the stearic acid diet.


*    Discussion
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
*Discussion
down arrowReferences
 
The effects on lipoprotein metabolism of trans--FAs (compared with cis-unsaturated FAs)1 2 31 and stearic acid10 11 32 have been studied frequently, but very little is known of the other properties, ie, thrombogenicity, of these FAs concerning CHD risk. Therefore, we compared the short-term effects of stearic acid and elaidic acid, the main monounsaturated trans-FA in Western diets, on several parameters of platelet function in a strictly controlled dietary intervention. According to the analyzed composition of the pooled duplicate diets, intakes of cis-monounsaturated and polyunsaturated FAs were similar for all three diets, and the only changes were within saturated and trans-FAs. Also, the weight of the subjects remained stable. The results obtained may therefore be attributed to dietary FA composition. However, the design of the study only allows for comparison between the stearic acid and trans-FA diets.

The results for both in vivo parameters of platelet activation, ß-TG and 2,3-dinor-TXB2; in vitro TXB2 production; and ADP-induced aggregation, as well as production of endothelial PGI2, all showed similar effects of the stearic acid and trans-FA diets. Only collagen aggregation was significantly different between the diets and was supported by a difference in arachidonic acid in total platelet phospholipids.

In the few human studies in which in vivo parameters of platelet activation have been measured, usually no changes or differences between diets have been found as a result of dietary manipulation. Excretion of 2,3-dinor-TXB2, seen to reflect systemic TXA2 production,33 is the result of a complicated interplay of enzymes, membrane properties, receptor activities, etc affecting the release of arachidonic acid from platelet membrane phospholipids. Differences at one stage of the cascade may be masked by differences at another stage, and thus, the possibility of differences during the process cannot be excluded, although the end result was similar. In the case of ß-TG, a platelet-specific protein released during platelet granule secretion, it may be that baseline urinary excretion is not affected, even with marked dietary manipulation. Fish oil or linseed oil supplementation did not affect urinary ß-TG excretion differently in healthy subjects in a study by our group,34 nor were any changes found in plasma ß-TG after diets rich in partially hydrogenated fish oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, or butter fat,35 although in disease states associated with increased platelet activation (such as diabetes mellitus,36 deep vein thrombosis,37 and coronary artery disease38 ) elevated plasma or urinary levels have been found.

In vitro measurements are criticized for the "unphysiological" environment in which they are performed. However, it may actually give a better picture of the changes in platelets, when the possible contribution of erythrocytes and leukocytes, for example, is excluded. The collagen results of the present study, supported by platelet FA data, suggest that stearic acid and monounsaturated trans-FAs have different effects on platelet aggregability. What this difference means or what the mechanism of action is remains to be resolved. Altered membrane properties could be a consequence of the trans-FA diet in particular, which presumably increases membrane rigidity. This in turn could lead to an impairment in receptor function or spontaneous or enhanced liberation of arachidonic acid, which could thus provoke platelet activation, possibly explaining our in vitro versus in vivo differences. The fact that collagen-induced aggregation and in vitro TX production did not show correlations as they did in several other studies39 40 may be explained by the concentrations used to induce TXB2 production, which were beyond concentrations that cause maximal aggregation and are far from physiological.

In healthy subjects the urinary excretion of PGI2 and TX metabolites is normally low. The effects of dietary changes on endothelial function, especially PGI2 production by vascular endothelial cells, are largely unknown at present. It is unclear whether PGI2 production can be modified by the intake of saturated or monounsaturated FAs,16 41 42 43 whereas the consumption of fish or fish oil has been shown to increase the urinary excretion of PGI3.44 45 In the present study, PGI2 excretion levels and TX-PG ratios were similar for the stearic acid and trans-FA diets and do not indicate differences in endothelial function between these FAs .

Comparisons with baseline/background diets are not statistically justified in parallel studies without a control group. Especially in a supplementation study, several uncontrolled factors may cause a drift in time. However, in a strictly monitored intervention wherein both weight and food intake are controlled, the risk of any drifts is significantly smaller. In the present study, some conclusions may thus be drawn when comparing the stearic acid and trans-FA diets with the baseline dairy fat diet. Both experimental diets seemed to increase the excretion of urinary 2,3-dinor-TXB2 as well as the TX-PG ratio. Excretion of PGI2 metabolites decreased after the trans-FA diet, while in general, the endothelial response to the diets was a magnitude weaker than that in platelets. On the basis of these observations, it is possible that the experimental diets may have an unfavorable effect on the TX-PG balance when compared with the dairy fat diet.

Previously the effects of stearic acid and monounsaturated trans-FAs on platelets have not been compared in humans. Also, other studies involving stearic acid or trans-FAs and platelets are few. Hornstra14 studied the prothrombotic effect of individual FAs in rats ex vivo by using the aorta-loop method. He showed that dietary fats rich in long-chain saturated FAs promote arterial thrombogenesis, whereas monounsaturated FAs are neutral and decrease arterial thrombosis tendency only when they replace long-chain saturated FAs. No difference between the antithrombotic effect of cis-FAs and their trans- isomers was found, the result being in line with ours.

No significant changes were found in the urinary excretion of TX or PGI2 metabolites or the TX-PG ratio in healthy males after they consumed diets high or low in stearic acid (7.3 versus 1.6 energy%).16 Mustad et al41 were also unable to show differences in urinary TXB2 between diets rich in stearic acid and those rich in lauric and myristic acids, although the stearic acid diet significantly decreased platelet arachidonic acid. A significantly smaller mean platelet volume was found after a stearic acid–rich diet (8 energy%) than after a palmitic acid diet in a controlled human study, indicating a more disc-like, less-activated state for the platelets in vivo. This was further confirmed by a significantly greater increase in mean platelet volume after the stearic acid diet in response to added ADP, again suggesting an initially less-activated state for platelets after this diet.46

The amounts of trans-FAs (8.7 energy%) used in this study are high compared with the average intake of 1 to 5 energy% in different countries47 48 but may be achieved by some groups of individuals in high-intake countries, eg, Canada (B. Holub. personal communication, 1997). Our study shows that stearic acid and trans-FAs are well incorporated into platelets but do not seem to differ in their effects on platelet activation, as measured by several in vivo and in vitro parameters representing different aspects of platelet activation. The results of in vitro collagen-induced aggregation, supported by platelet FA data, illustrate on the other hand, differential properties for these FAs. The results also emphasize the need to use complementary methods to assess platelet function, not only the in vitro platelet aggregation test that is generally used. Further research on cell signaling pathways and signal transduction with these FAs could possibly give further information on the in vivo situation and mechanisms of action of these and other dietary FAs.


*    Selected Abbreviations and Acronyms
 
FA = fatty acid
EIA = enzyme immunoassay
HMW = high molecular weight
PC = phosphatidylcholine
PE = phosphatidylethanolamine
PG = prostaglandin
PRP = platelet-rich plasma
TG = thromboglobulin
TX = thromboxane


*    Acknowledgments
 
This work was supported by grants from the Unilever Research Laboratorium, Vlaardingen, the Academy of Finland, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Food Research Foundation, and the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation. The authors are grateful to the subjects for their cooperation, Sirkka-Liisa Sarpola for technical assistance, and Pertti Mutanen, MSc, for statistical advice. Some of the foods were kindly supplied by the Finnish food industry.


*    Footnotes
 
Reprint requests to Anu M. Turpeinen, Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, Division of Nutrition, Latokartanonkaari 7, PO Box 27, 00014 University of Helsinki, 00710, Helsinki, Finland.

Received March 13, 1997; accepted November 12, 1997.


*    References
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
up arrowDiscussion
*References
 
1. Mensink RP, Katan MB. Effect of dietary trans fatty acids on high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in healthy subjects. N Engl J Med. 1990;323:439–445.[Abstract]

2. Zock PL, Katan MB. Hydrogenation alternatives: effects of trans fatty acids and stearic acid versus linoleic acid on serum lipids and lipoproteins in humans. J Lipid Res. 1992;33:399–410.[Abstract]

3. Mensink RP, Zock PL, Katan MB, Hornstra GJ. Effect of dietary cis and trans fatty acids on serum lipoprotein (a) levels in humans. J Lipid Res. 1992;33:1493–1501.[Abstract]

4. Nestel P, Noakes M, Belling B, McArthur R, Clifton P, Janus E, Abbey M. Plasma lipoprotein lipid and Lp(a) changes with substitution of elaidic acid for oleic acid in the diet. J Lipid Res. 1992;33:1029–1036.[Abstract]

5. Lichtenstein AH, Ausman LM, Carrasco W, Jenner JL, Ordovas JM, Schaefer EJ. Hydrogenation impairs the hypolipidemic effect of corn oil in humans. Arterioscler Thromb. 1993;13:154–161.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

6. Clevidence BA, Judd JT, Schaefer EJ, McNamara JR, Muesing RA, Wittes J, Sunkin ME. Plasma lipoprotein(a) levels in subjects consuming trans fatty acids. FASEB J. 1995;9:A579. Abstract.

7. Hwang DH, Chanmugam P, Anding R. Effects of dietary 9-trans,12-trans linoleate on arachidonic acid metabolism in rat platelets. Lipids. 1982;17:307–313.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

8. Peacock LIL, Wahle KWJ. Isomeric cis and trans fatty acids and porcine platelet reactivity to collagen in vitro. Biochem Soc Trans. 1988;16:291.

9. MacIntyre DE, Hoover RL, Smith M, Steer M, Lynch C, Karnovsky MJ, Salzman EW. Inhibition of platelet function by cis-unsaturated fatty acids. Blood. 1984;63:848–857.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

10. Bonanome A, Grundy SM. Effect of dietary stearic acid on plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein levels. N Engl J Med. 1988;318:1244–1248.[Abstract]

11. Denke MA, Grundy SM. Effects of fats high in stearic acid on lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in men. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991;54:1036–1040.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

12. Derr J, Kris-Etherton PM, Pearson TA, Seligson FH. The role of fatty acid saturation on plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and apoproteins, II: the plasma total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol response of individual fatty acids. Metabolism. 1993;42:130–134.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

13. Renaud S, Dumont E, Godsey F, Suplisson A, Thevenon C. Platelet function in relation to dietary fats in farmers from two regions of France. Thromb Haemost. 1978;40:518–531.

14. Hornstra G. Dietary Fats, Prostanoids and Arterial Thrombosis. The Hague, Netherlands: Martinus Nijhof Publishers; 1982:44–62.

15. Hoak JC. Stearic acid, clotting, and thrombosis. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994;60(suppl):1050S–1053S.

16. Blair IA, Dougherty RM, Iacono JM. Dietary stearic acid and thromboxane-prostacyclin biosynthesis in normal human subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994;60(suppl):1054S–1058S.

17. Aro A, Jauhiainen M, Partanen R, Salminen I, Mutanen M. Dairy fat, stearic acid, and trans fatty acids: effects on serum and lipoprotein lipids, apolipoproteins, lipoprotein(a), and lipid transfer proteins of healthy subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997;65:1419–1426.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

18. Mutanen M, Aro A. Coagulation and fibrinolysis factors in healthy subjects consuming high stearic or trans fatty acid diets. Thromb Haemost. 1997;77:99–104.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

19. Zock PL, Blijlevens RAMT, de Vries JHM, Katan MB. Effect of stearic acid and trans fatty acids versus linoleic acid on blood pressure in normotensive women and men. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1993;47:437–444.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

20. Prisco D, Rogasi PG, Matucci M, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Serneri GGN. Increased thromboxane A2 generation and altered membrane fatty acid composition in platelets from patients with active angina pectoris. Thromb Res. 1986;44:101–102.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

21. Folch J, Lees M, Sloane-Stanley GHS. A simple method for isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. J Biol Chem. 1957;226:497–509.[Free Full Text]

22. Stoffel W, Chu F, Ahrens EH Jr. Analysis of long-chain fatty acids by gas-liquid chromatography. Anal Chem. 1959;31:307–308.

23. Berens ME, Salmon SE, Davis TP. Quantitative analysis of prostaglandins in cell culture medium by high-resolution gas chromatography with electron capture detection. J Chromatogr. 1984;307:251–260.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

24. Pradelles P, Grassi J, Maclouf J. Enzyme immunoassays of eicosanoids using acetylcholinesterase. Methods Enzymol. 1990;187:24–34.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

25. Freese R, Mutanen M. Alpha-linolenic acid and marine long-chain n-3 fatty acids only slightly differ in their effects on hemostatic factors in healthy subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997;66:591–598.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

26. Falardeau P, Oates JA, Brash AR. Quantitative analysis of two dinor metabolites of prostaglandin I2. Anal Biochem. 1981;115:359–367.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

27. Freese R, Mutanen M, Valsta LM, Salminen I. Comparison of the effects of two diets rich in monounsaturated fatty acids differing in their linoleic/{alpha}-linolenic acid ratio on platelet aggregation. Thromb Haemost. 1994;71:73–77.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

28. Born GVR. Aggregation of blood platelets by adenosine diphosphate and its reversal. Nature. 1962;194:927–929.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

29. Hjemdahl P, Perneby C, Theodorsson E, Egberg N, Larsson PT. A new assay for ß-thromboglobulin in urine. Thromb Res. 1991;64:33–43.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

30. Systat. Statistics, Version 5.2 ed. Evanston, Ill: Systat Inc; 1992:14.

31. Mensink RP, Katan MB. Trans monounsaturated fatty acids in nutrition and their impact on serum lipoprotein levels in man. Prog Lipid Res. 1993;32:111–122.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

32. Cobb TK. Effects of dietary stearic acid on plasma cholesterol levels. South Med J. 1992;85:25–27.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

33. Catella F, Nowak J, FitzGerald GA. Measurement of renal and non-renal eicosanoid synthesis. Am J Med. 1986;81:23–29.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

34. Freese R, Mutanen M. N-3 fatty acids from linseed and fish oils have similar effects on haemostatic factors in healthy subjects. International 14th Puijo Symposium: Physical Activity, Diet and Cardiovascular Diseases—A Fresh Look Beyond Old Facts. Kuopio, Finland; 1996:29. Abstract.

35. Almendingen K, Seljeflot I, Sandstad B, Pedersen JI. Effects of partially hydrogenated fish oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, and butter on hemostatic variables in men. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1996;16:375–380.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

36. van Oost BA, Veldhuyzen B, Timmermans APM, Sixma JJ. Increased urinary ß-thromboglobulin excretion in diabetes assayed with a modified RIA kit-technique. Thromb Haemost. 1983;49:18–20.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

37. de Boer AC, Han P, Turpie AGG, Zielinsky A, Genton E. Plasma and urine beta-thromboglobulin concentration in patients with deep vein thrombosis. Blood. 1981;58:693–698.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

38. Doyle DJ, Chesterman CN, Cade JF, McGready JR, Rennie GC, Morgan FJ. Plasma concentrations of platelet specific proteins with platelet survival. Blood. 1980;55:82–84.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

39. Mutanen M, Freese R, Valsta LM, Ahola I, Ahlström A. Rapeseed oil and sunflower oil diets enhance platelet in vitro aggregation and thromboxane production in healthy men when compared with milk fat or habitual diets. Thromb Haemost. 1992;67:352–356.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

40. Malle E, Kostner GM. Effects of fish oils on lipid variables and platelet function indices. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 1993;49:645–663.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

41. Mustad VA, Kris-Etherton PM, Derr J, Reddy CC, Pearson TA. Comparison of the effects of diets rich in stearic acid versus myristic acid and lauric acid on platelet fatty acids and excretion of thromboxane A2 and PGI2 metabolites in healthy young men. Metabolism. 1993;42:463–469.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

42. Blair IA, Prakash C, Phillips MA, Dougherty RM, Iacono JM. Dietary modification of {omega}6 fatty acid intake and its effect on urinary eicosanoid excretion. Am J Clin Nutr. 1993;57:154–160.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

43. Prakash C, Nelson GJ, Wu M-M, Schmidt PC, Phillips MA, Blair IA. Decreased systemic thromboxane A2 biosynthesis in normal human subjects fed a salmon-rich diet. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994;60:369–373.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

44. Fischer S, Weber PC. Prostaglandin I3 is formed in vivo in man after dietary eicosapentaenoic acid. Nature. 1984;307:165–168.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

45. Knapp HR, Reilly IAG, Alessandrini P, FitzGerald GA. In vivo indexes of platelet and vascular function during fish-oil administration in patients with atherosclerosis. N Engl J Med. 1986;314:937–942.[Abstract]

46. Schoene NW, Allman MA, Dougherty RM, Iacono JM. Dissimilar responses of platelets to dietary stearic and palmitic acids. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994;60:1059S. Abstract.[Free Full Text]

47. Becker W. Intake of trans fatty acids in the Nordic countries. Scand J Nutr. 1996;40:16–18.

48. Bolton-Smith C, Woodward F, Fenton S, McCluskey M-K, Brown CA. Trans fatty acids in the Scottish diet: an assessment using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Br J Nutr. 1995;74:661–670.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]





This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Turpeinen, A. M.
Right arrow Articles by Mutanen, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Turpeinen, A. M.
Right arrow Articles by Mutanen, M.