Long-term influence of omega-3 fatty acids on fibrinolysis, fibrinogen, and serum lipids

Abstract

The long-term influence of omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FA) on fibrinolytic parameters before and after venous occlusion (VO), fibrinogen, and serum lipids was assessed in a group of moderately hypertriglyceridemic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. The patients (n=58) were investigated before the operation (baseline), and 6 months afterwards. Following randomization postoperatively, 29 patients received 4g ω-3 FA concentrate, containing 3.4 g eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid per day. The remaining 29 patients constituted the control group. Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) activity had decreased in both groups at 6 months, whereas PAI-1 antigen increased in the ω-3 FA group and decreased in the control group (median change from baseline, 10.0% vs −12.9%, p=0.039). In both groups combined, there was a correlation between the change in PAI-1 antigen and the change in serum phospholipid ω-3 fatty acids (r=0.28, p=0.036). There was no group difference in tissue plasminogen activator activity and antigen, before as well as after VO. Global fibrinolytic activity after VO, assessed by the serum D-dimer method, was not statistically different in the two groups. Serum triglyceride levels were more reduced in the ω-3 FA group (median change from baseline, −34.5% vs −11.1% in the control group, p=0.001). There was no group difference in the concentrations of fibrinogen or cholesterol in lipoprotein fractions. Thus, an expected triglyceride-lowering effect by ω-3 FA was recorded, but except for an increase in PAI-1 antigen, no long-term influence on fibrinolytic parameters was noted.