Differential effects of dietary supplementation with fish oil or soy lecithin on human platelet adhesion

To investigate the possible regulating role of omega-6 and of omega-3 fatty acids on platelet adhesiveness, we randomised 60 volunteers into three gro ups to take 20 ml (equivalent to 0.3 g omega-6, 3.6 g omega-3; omega-6/omeg a-3 ratio 0.1) per day of a fish oil supplement, or to take 25 g (equivalen t to 1.5 g omega-6, 0.5 g omega-3; omega-6/omega-3 ratio 3) per day of a so y lecithin supplement, or to continue on their usual diet without any suppl ement (control group) for a period of 15 days. Platelet adhesion on fibrino gen-coated 96-well microtitre plates was evaluated in the resting condition and after stimulation with 2 mu M ADP or 0.02 U/ml thrombin. Compared to t he values before the experimental period, the fish oil group showed a signi ficant reduction in stimulated adhesion (with ADP: from 18.8% to 15.6%, p < 0.01; with thrombin: from 24.4% to 20.8%, p < 0.005), whereas no differenc e was noted in the resting condition (from 3.6% to 3.5%, NS). In the soy le cithin group, platelet adhesion was increased in all rest conditions (with ADP: from 18.7% to 23.2%: p < 0.001; with thrombin: from 24.0% to 29.9%, p < 0.001; resting: from 3.5% to 6.6%, p < 0.001). No significant changes wer e observed in the control group. A good correlation was found between plate let adhesion data and the changes in the platelet fatty acid omega-6/omega- 3 ratio caused by the different supplementations. Our results indicate an i nhibitory effect of fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids on stimulated huma n platelet adhesiveness and a stimulatory effect of soy lecithin rich in om ega-6 fatty acids on resting and stimulated adhesion. They suggest moreover that the omega-6/omega-3 ratio is a determinant of platelet adhesion.