Omega-3 Fatty Acids Exhibit Gender-Specific Roles

by VRP Staff

A recently published clinical trial examined the role of omega-3 fatty acids on platelet aggregation (clumping or “sticky platelets”). Increased platelet aggregation is an important risk factor for cardiovascular concerns. In this new study, researchers evaluated the effects of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on platelet aggregation in men and women. The subjects received a single dose of an EPA-rich capsule, a DHA-rich capsule or a placebo. The subjects were evaluated for platelet aggregation at the time of supplementation and again after 2 hours, 5 hours and 24 hours.

The results showed that EPA was most effective at reducing platelet aggregation in men, showing a decrease in platelet aggregation of 11 percent at 2 hours, 10.6 percent at 5 hours, and 20.5 percent at 24 hours post-supplementation. The researches also found that following EPA supplementation, there was an inverse association between testosterone levels and platelet aggregation, which means that as testosterone levels increased, platelet aggregation decreased. The study also showed that EPA was not effective at reducing platelet aggregation in women. However, DHA reduced platelet aggregation in the women by 13.7 percent at 24 hours post-supplementation.

The study authors concluded, “Interactions between sex hormones and omega-3 fatty acids exist to differentially reduce platelet aggregation. For healthy individuals, males may benefit more from EPA supplementation while females are more responsive to DHA.”

Reference:

Phang M, Sinclair AJ, Lincz LF, Garg ML. Gender-specific inhibition of platelet aggregation following omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2010 Aug 11. Published Online Ahead of Print.