N-3 fatty acid supplementation to routine statin treatment inhibits platelet function, decreases patients’ daytime blood pressure, and improves inflammatory status

• Published in: European journal of clinical pharmacology Vol. 68; no. 8; pp. 1139 - 1146
• Main Authors: Doenyas-Barak, Keren, Berman, Sylvia, Abu-Hamad, Ramzia, Golik, Ahuva, Rahimi-Levene, Naomi, Efrati, Shai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.08.2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Blood Platelets - drug effects; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Clinical Trial; Dietary Supplements; Drug Synergism; Drug Therapy, Combination - methods; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - metabolism; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Hypercholesterolemia - drug therapy; Hypercholesterolemia - metabolism; Inflammation - blood; Inflammation - drug therapy; Inflammation - metabolism; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Pharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 - metabolism; STAT Transcription Factors - metabolism; Statins; Platelets function; Inflammation; Blood pressure; N-3 fatty acid; Statins; Human; Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Lipids; Statin derivative; n-3 fatty acid; Treatment; Platelet function; Unsaturated fatty acid; Arterial pressure; Inhibitor; Hemodynamics; Supplementation; Antilipemic agent
• ISSN: 0031-6970; 1432-1041
• DOI: 10.1007/s00228-012-1235-4

Objectives N-3 fatty acids reduce the risks of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Administration of N-3 fatty acids to patients treated with statins may potentiate the treatment effects. We examined the operating mechanisms underlying such a combination. Methods Thirty-two hypercholesterolemic patients aged 30–70 years with hypercholesterolemia controlled by statins, received sequential treatments with placebo followed by 1.9 g/day of N-3 fatty acids for 23 weeks. Scheduled clinical visits included physical examination, 24-h blood pressure measurement, endothelial function evaluated by pulse wave analysis, analyses for platelet function, inflammation markers [interleukin (IL)-6, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)] and oxidative stress parameters (STAT-8-Isoprostane) were undertaken at baseline, after placebo treatment, and after 6 and 20 weeks of N-3 fatty acid intake. Results Platelets functions were significantly inhibited, whereas endothelial function parameters were unaltered. IL-6 significantly decreased whereas PAI-1and STAT-8-Isoprostane levels remained unaffected. Daytime blood pressure significantly decreased; however, nighttime pressure and heart rate remained unchanged. No evidence of lipid-profile improvement was observed following combined treatment with statins and N-3 fatty acids. Conclusions In hypercholesterolemic patients, combination of statins and N-3 fatty acid inhibits platelet aggregation, alters inflammatory status, and positively affects daytime blood pressure. Close long-term follow-up might reveal additional beneficial effects of N-3 fatty acids in this patient population.