THE EFFECT OF OAT HUSK SUPPLEMENTATION IN DIET ON PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR INHIBITOR TYPE-1 IN DIABETIC SURVIVORS OF MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

Oat husk supplementation has been shown to reduce plasma plasminogen a ctivator inhibitor (PAI) activity in healthy volunteers. This effect w as evaluated in 42 survivors of myocardial infarction with diabetes me llitus type 2 assigned to either oat husk group or to regular diet gro up. Blood samples were collected on four occasions: at the entry in th e study, after 6 (5 g/day) and 4 (10 g/day) weeks of diet supplementat ion and finally after 4 weeks of wash-out period. PAI-1 antigen and PA I activity were, though not significantly, reduced by the 10 g/day oat husk supplement. After the wash-out period PAT-1 antigen and PAI acti vity increased significantly above the values during dietary intervent ion and even above the initial values, A similar though not significan t increase was observed in the control subjects. The increase in PAT-1 antigen during the observation period of 14 weeks in both groups coul d suggest a seasonal variation. Tn this respect, a more pronounced dec rease of PAI that has been expected from oat husk supplementation migh t have been blurred by a concomitant seasonal increase, while the incr ease in PAI after the cessation of fiber supplementation might represe nt a rebound effect.