Effects of acetylsalicylic acid on plasma lipids and on post-heparin lipase activities

Abstract

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) was administered orally at the dose of 3 g a day for 2 days to healthy subjects. Plasma free fatty acids, serum triglycerides and prebetalipoproteins were significantly decreased, while cholesterol, beta and alpha 1 lipoproteins did not change. The two fractions (protamine-resistant and protamine-inactivated) of plasma post-heparin lipoprotein lipase activity (PHLA) significantly fell after ASA. PHLA diminution was reproduced by direct addition of ASA or sodium salicylate or of plasma from individuals under treatment with ASA to post-heparin plasma of untreated subjects and is, therefore, explained by a direct inactivation. The inhibition of PHLA was not followed by a significant impairment of the removal of circulating triglycerides.