Haemostasis in relation to dietary fat as estimated by erythrocyte fatty acid composition: the prime study.

We investigated whether haemostatic variables were related with dietary fatty acid composition as estimated by the fatty acid content of erythrocytes. Subjects were a subsample (n=283) of the participants in the Prospective Epidemiological Study of Myocardial Infarction (PRIME) Study. Factor VII, fibrinogen, tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen (tPA-ag), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), D-dimer and von Willebrand factor (vWf) were measured and the fatty acid composition was determined in the phospholipids of total erythrocytes by gas chromatography. Statistical analyses were performed using multiple linear regression analyses with adjustment for age, center and body mass index. tPA-ag was significantly related to the n-3 fatty acids derived from fish. This was reflected in an inverse association of all n-3 fatty acids combined with tPA-ag (beta=-0.37 ng/ml/%, 95% confidence intervals: -0.45, -0.29, P<.01). Positive and significant associations of D-dimer with arachidic and eicosamonoenoic acid were observed (P<.01). No relationships were found between fatty acids and fibrinogen, vWf, PAI-1 or factor VII. The results of this study suggest that consumption of n-3 fatty acids derived from fish may favourably influence tPA-ag.