Effects of diets containing olive oil, sunflower oil, or rapeseed oil on the hemostatic system

Various studies have already shown that the fatty acid composition of dieta ry fat has different effects on hemostasis and platelet function. However, knowledge on this topic is incomplete. In the present study, fifty-eight he althy students received either a 4-week rapeseed oil [high content of monou nsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and high n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio], an olive oil (h igh content of MUFA, low n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio) or a sunflower oil (low conten t of MUFA. low n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio) diet. In each group, effects on hemostat ic parameters were compared with a wash-in diet rich in saturated fatty aci ds with respect to intermediate-time effects on the hemostatic system and p latelet function. With the olive oil diet, a reduction of coagulation facto rs VIIc, XIIc, XIIa, and Xc was found, whereas sunflower oil led to lower v alues of coagulation factors XIIc, XIIa, and IXc. In all study groups level s of plasmin-alpha (2)-antiplasmin were lower in week 4 than at baseline. L ower fibrinogen binding on platelets was found after the sunflower oil diet , whereas expression of CD62 and spontaneous platelet aggregation were slig htly higher after the olive oil diet. However. given the major differences in the fatty acid compositions of the diets. the differences between the gr oups with respect to hemostasis tended to be small. Therefore, the clinical significance of the present findings remains to be evaluated.