Blood and Aorta Lipid Status and Platelet Function in Swine Modified by Dietary r-Linolenic Acid-Rich Flax Seed

The effects of dietary 18:3n 3 on the fatty acid composition of plasma, red blood cells, aorta, platelets, plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, and platelet response to collagen-induced aggregation in swine was investigated. Pigs (n ) 25) were fed diets containing 18:3n 3 at 0% (control), 1.5% (LNA1), 2.5% (LNA2), and 3.6% (LNA3). Dietary 18:3n 3 resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) enrichment of 18:3n 3, 20:5n 3, and 22:5n 3 in plasma, red blood cells, aorta, platelet neutral, and phospholipids with a concomitant reduction in 20:4n 6 (P < 0.05). Dietary 18:3n 3 did not alter the plasma cholesterol concentration or 22:6n 3 fatty acid in any of the tissues examined. However, plasma triglyceride concentration was reduced significantly (P < 0.05) in pigs receiving LNA1, LNA2, and LNA3 diets when compared with the pigs receiving the control diet. Platelet aggregation induced by collagen was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the control group when compared with LNA2 and LNA3 diets, respectively.