Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid on the platelet aggregation and composition of fatty acid in man. A double blind study

Abstract

Twelve volunteers (mean age, 60.7 +/- 4.2 years) were treated with placebo for the first week and then given partially purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 67% purity) at 2 g per day for 4 weeks. Significant decreases in ADP-, collagen- and adrenalin-induced platelet aggregation were observed at 2 and 4 weeks after EPA treatment, together with an increase in the plasma ratio of EPA to arachidonic acid and in platelet phospholipids. It was concluded that the administration of partially purified EPA was effective in decreasing platelet aggregation, possibly by changing the platelet ratio of EPA to arachidonic acid.