WHOLE-BLOOD PRODUCTION OF THROMBOXANE, PROSTACYCLIN AND LEUKOTRIENE B-4 AFTER DIETARY FISH-OIL SUPPLEMENTATION IN MAN - EFFECT OF VITAMIN-E

12 subjects were given 30 ml/day of a fish oil already stabilized with vitamin E (1.5 IU/g) and other natural antioxidants (fish oil, FO), a nd the same fish oil supplemented with extra vitamin E (to total 4.5 I U/g) (FO+E), in a randomized double-blind cross-over study. The whole blood production of thromboxane B-2, measured in serum, was reduced af ter 4 weeks of ingestion of both FO+E (by 47%, P < 0.01) and of FO (by 40%, P < 0.05) whereas 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) increased slightly in both cases, by 4% and 5% respectively, both NS. Leukotriene B, production decreased on both FO+E (by 20%, NS) and FO (by 17%, P < 0.05). This st udy thus showed that a stabilized fish oil had marked effects on eicos anoid production, which may be important for its cardiovascular effect . Further supplementation with vitamin E had no additional effect, ind icating that the vitamin E content (1.5 IU/g) in this stabilized fish oil might have been optimal.