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. 2015 Aug 20;10(8):e0135930.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135930. eCollection 2015.

Fish-Free Diet in Patients with Phenylketonuria Is Not Associated with Early Atherosclerotic Changes and Enhanced Platelet Activation

Patrik Htun  1 , Jens Nee  2 , Ursula Ploeckinger  3 , Klaus Eder  4 , Tobias Geisler  5 , Meinrad Gawaz  5 , Wolfgang Bocksch  5 , Suzanne Fateh-Moghadam  5
Affiliations

Fish-Free Diet in Patients with Phenylketonuria Is Not Associated with Early Atherosclerotic Changes and Enhanced Platelet Activation

Patrik Htun et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background and purpose: Since patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) have to follow a lifelong restriction of natural protein to lower phenylalanine-intake, they never eat fish. This diet may lead to a chronic deficit of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids with the risk of early atherosclerotic changes. The aim of the study was to analyse the fatty acid profile of PKU patients and to correlate the results with surrogate markers of early atherosclerotic changes [enhanced carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and ß-stiffness index] and platelet activation.

Methods: In 43 PKU patients and in 58 healthy controls we prospectively examined the fatty acid profile, CIMT, ß-stiffness index and platelet activation (flow cytometric determination of markers of platelet activation). CIMT was measured bilaterally by ultrasound. CIMTmean was defined as the mean value of the sum of CIMTleft and CIMTright.

Results: Despite of lower HDL-cholesterol and higher triglyceride concentrations in the PKU group, there was no significant difference in the omega-6 or omega-3 fatty acid profile, CIMT, ß-stiffness index between both groups. Platelet activation was not enhanced in the PKU group.

Conclusions: Fish-free diet does not induce early atherosclerotic changes or enhanced platelet activation in PKU patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Schematic representation of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and β-stiffness index in PKU patients (group I) and controls (group II).
Bar-graphs showing the mean value and SEM. There was no significant difference in CIMT [(0.43 ± 0.02 mm) versus (0.48 ± 0.01mm), pCIMT = 0.88] and β-stiffness index [(4.57 ± 0.47) versus 4.18 ± 0.59) pß = 0.7].
Fig 2
Fig 2. Schematic expression of platelet activation markers CD62P, PAC-1, CD63 and CD40 L in PKU patients (group I) versus controls (group II).
Histobars representing a) percentage of positive platelets as [median; interquartile range]: CD62P: [2.0; 1.6–2.7] versus [2.1; 1.57–2.8], p = 0.86 and PAC-1: [0.46; 0.32–0.68] versus [0.55; 0.42–0.71], p = 0.29; b) Mean immunofluorescence intensity (MFI); [median; interquartile range]: CD63 [12.5; 11.0–14.9] versus [13.23; 11.61–15.25], p = 0.3; and CD40L [16.31; 13.10–18.7] versus [16.5; 13.5–19.3], p = 0.62.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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