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Prostaglandin I3 is formed in vivo in man after dietary eicosapentaenoic acid

Nature volume 307, pages 165–168 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

Greenland Eskimos who live on a traditional marine diet rich in long chain ω3-polyunsaturated fatty acids have a low incidence of cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction1–3. In their plasma and platelet lipids, arachidonic acid, the precursor of dienoic prostanoids, is partly replaced by eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5, ω3; EPA), the precursor of trienoic prostanoids4,5. Studies with an Eskimo diet6 or a Western diet supplemented with sea fish or fish oil rich in EPA7–14 resulted in an ‘Eskimo-like’ pattern of plasma and platelet lipids. Moreover, less reactive platelets, a reduced ex vivo formation of proaggregatory thromboxane A2 and a blunted circulatory response to pressor hormones were reported. These favourable functional effects may be induced by a shift of prostanoid formation from the dienoic to the trienoic series14,15. We show here that the major urinary metabolite of endogenous prostaglandin I3 is present in subjects that have ingested either cod liver oil (∼4 g EPA per day) or mackerel (∼10–15 g EPA per day). Our studies provide the first direct evidence for in vivo formation of prostaglandin I3 in man.

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  1. Medizinische Klinik Innenstadt der Universität München, Ziemssenstraße 1, 8000, München, 2, FRG

    Sven Fischer & Peter C. Weber

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Fischer, S., Weber, P. Prostaglandin I3 is formed in vivo in man after dietary eicosapentaenoic acid. Nature 307, 165–168 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/307165a0

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