Effect of fish oil and vitamin E on the cardiovascular risk indicators fibrinogen, C-reactive protein and PAI activity in healthy young volunteers

Abstract

High plasma levels of fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity are associated with an increased risk of ischaemic heart disease and stroke. There are indications that N-3 fatty acids influence the production of these proteins, but only in the presence of an adequate amount of the antioxidant vitamin E. In this study we have evaluated the effect on plasma levels of fibrinogen and CRP of fish oil containing N-3 fatty acids and the natural antioxidant vitamin E. 11 healthy young volunteers with fibrinogen and CRP levels in the normal range were supplemented for one week with 30 g/day fish oil, containing 60 IU vitamin E. No effects on fibrinogen and on CRP were found, indicating that fish oil has no effect on basal levels of fibrinogen and CRP. The effect of vitamin E on fibrinogen, CRP and PAI activity levels was evaluated in 20 healthy volunteers (age 21–31) who received vitamin E (dose doubling every 2 weeks from 25 to 800 IU/day) for 12 weeks. No significant changes in fibrinogen, CRP and PAI activity levels were found. From these studies we conclude that it is unlikely that short term supplementation with fish oil or vitamin E influences the levels of the acute phase reactants fibrinogen, CRP or PAI activity in healthy young volunteers with normal levels of these risk indicators.