Fish oil and plasma fibrinogen

• Published in: BMJ Vol. 297; no. 6642; pp. 180 - 181
• Main Authors: Høstmark, A. T., Bjerkedal, T., Kierulf, P., Flaten, H., Ulshagen, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 16.07.1988; British Medical Association; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Blood plasma; Capsules; Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Fatty acids; Fibrinogen - analysis; Fish oil; Fish Oils - administration & dosage; Humans; Male; Norway; Olive Oil; Plant Oils - administration & dosage; Unsaturated fatty acids; Norway
• ISSN: 0959-8138; 1468-5833; 1756-1833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.297.6642.180

The low morbidity from ischaemic heart disease in people who eat large amounts of fish has been attributed to possible hypolipidaemic and antithrombotic effects of fish oils. Intake of marine oils has been shown to lower plasma triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations, decrease thrombocyte aggregability, and increase the bleeding time. As plasma fibrinogen is essential for the formation of thrombus and the risk of coronary disease is positively correlated with the plasma fibrinogen concentration, we decided to see whether fish oils might possibly affect plasma fibrinogen concentrations.