FISH-OIL CONTAINING DIET AND PLATELET-AGGREGATION

Current research suggests that a diet high in fish oil may be useful f or immunomodulation in hospitalized patients. However, one of the side effects of fish oil is a prolongation of the bleeding time, specifica lly by reducing platelet aggregability. Although this effect might be beneficial for patients with cardiovascular disease, it would be a pot ential concern in certain critically ill patients. To address this con cern, we conducted a prospective study of platelet aggregation in 16 s urgical patients who were randomly assigned to receive either a diet c ontaining 16.5 g of fish oil in 1500 ml (Impact) or usual care (standa rd enteral formulas devoid of fish oil). Feeding was successfully acco mplished in the patient group receiving a diet that provided approxima tely 14.2 g of fish oil/day for 1 wk without significantly affecting p latelet aggregability. Thus, it appears that, over the short term, thi s dose of fish oil does not alter platelet function in hospitalized su rgical patients.