EFFECT OF LONG-TERM, MODERATE-DOSE SUPPLEMENTATION WITH OMEGA-3-FATTY-ACIDS ON MONOCYTE PROCOAGULANT ACTIVITY AND RELEASE OF INTERLEUKIN-6 IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

The influence of a moderate dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyu nsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs) (3.4 g eicosapentaenoic and doc osahexaenoic acids per day) for six months on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated monocyte procoagulant activity (PCA) was studied in two se ries of experiments, evaluating the plasma and cellular phases, respec tively. In the first series, standard cryopreserved monocyte cultures were examined in heparin plasma of atherosclerotic patients (n = 24, 1 2 given omega-3 PUFAs, 12 controls). In the second series, monocytes f rom patients (n = 32, 16 given omega-3 PUFAs, 16 controls) were invest igated in a standard plasma milieu. Plasma and monocytes were obtained from the test subjects before as well as after six months of omega-3 PUFA supplementation. Monocyte PCA, measured by the formation of fibri nopeptide A, was not significantly different when comparing plasma and monocytes from the subjects supplemented with omega-3 PUFAs with plas ma and monocytes, respectively, from the control subjects. In the seco nd series of experiments we also determined the LPS induced release of interleukin-6 (IL-6), which was not significantly different in the tw o groups. However, a strong correlation between the stimulated monocyt e IL-6 release and PCA was demonstrated (r = 0.70, p = 0.00001), proba bly reflecting an individual inflammatory response pattern.