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

  • Clinical Trial
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European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgement

We thank Solgar Vitamin and Herb Company, for their generous donation of the Omega-3 capsules used in the study. We also thank Mr. Roy Sagi and Ms. Ora Sagi for their invaluable assistance with patient management during the study period.

Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors had financial or personal relationships with other people, or organizations, that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work.

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Correspondence to Keren Doenyas-Barak.

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Doenyas-Barak, K., Berman, S., Abu-Hamad, R. et al. N-3 fatty acid supplementation to routine statin treatment inhibits platelet function, decreases patients’ daytime blood pressure, and improves inflammatory status. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 68, 1139–1146 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-012-1235-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-012-1235-4

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