DIETS ENRICHED IN (N-3) FATTY-ACIDS AFFECT RAT COAGULATION-FACTORS DEPENDENT ON VITAMIN-K

The effects of dietary lipids on haemostasis were investigated in rats fed high fat diets enriched in saturated fatty acids (SAT), oleic aci d (OLEIC), MaxEPA(R) oil (MaxEPA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or doco sahexaenoic acid (DMA) and results were compared to those for rats fed standard chow (ST). Coagulant activities of factor IIc and factor VII -Xc were reduced by about 70 % in the MaxEPA group and 50 % in the EPA and DHA groups relative to the OLEIC, SAT and ST groups. Liver vitami n K levels were five times lower in the experimental groups than in th e ST group, which would indicate an effect of high fat diets on vitami n K metabolism. However, only (n-3) fatty acids prolonged the prothrom bin time. These components could act at the post-translational modific ation level of vitamin K-dependent plasma clotting factors. The change s in haemostatic factors found in the MaxEPA group were counteracted b y vitamin K supplementation. ((C) Academie des sciences/Elsevier, Pari s.)