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In-vitro platelet hyperaggregation and hypersecretion associated with the use of fish oil in healthy children
Bulent Alioglu1, Tugba Zengin, Nermin Dindar
1Department of Pediatric Hematology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital; Director of Blood Bank, Therapeutic Apheresis and Hematology Laboratories , Ankara , Turkey.
Insights
Fish oil supplementation in children may increase platelet aggregation and secretion, potentially affecting its use as an antithrombotic agent. Further research is needed to understand these in-vitro effects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Nutritional Science
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Fish oil contains eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
- Platelet function is crucial for hemostasis and thrombosis.
- The effects of fish oil on pediatric platelet function require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vitro effects of fish oil supplementation on platelet function tests in children.
- To assess changes in platelet aggregation and secretion after fish oil intake.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 62 children aged 2-12 years.
- Comparison between a control group and a fish oil-supplemented group.
- Platelet function tests (aggregation and secretion) were performed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.
Main Results:
- Fish oil supplementation significantly increased platelet aggregation induced by ADP after 8 weeks.
- Increased platelet secretion was observed with collagen, thrombin (standard and high dose), and ADP (standard dose) at 4 and 8 weeks.
- In vitro hyperaggregation and increased platelet secretion were noted in the fish oil group.
Conclusions:
- Fish oil, particularly EPA and DHA, can induce in vitro hyperaggregation and increase platelet secretion in children.
- Caution is advised when using fish oil supplementation in pediatric populations, especially for antithrombotic purposes.
- Further studies are warranted to elucidate the clinical implications of these in vitro findings.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to evaluate how fish oil supplementation in children affects platelet function tests in vitro.
Materials And Methods:
The study included 62 children (20 healthy children without any medications and 42 healthy children who volunteered to take fish oil supplementation) aged between 2 and 12 years. In the group of children taking fish oil supplementation, the baseline, fourth week, and eighth week values for platelet function tests were obtained.
Results:
In the platelet aggregation tests induced by high dose of ADP after 8 weeks, the values were significantly higher compared with the values measured before the use of fish oil. The fish oil-supplemented group's values showed an increase in the fourth-week measurements compared with the control group and the baseline measurements in terms of platelet secretion test induced by collagen, standard dose of thrombin, and high-dose thrombin. Platelet secretion tests induced by standard dose of ADP at the end of the eighth week showed an increase compared with baseline test values.
Conclusion:
This study was done in in-vitro conditions wherein the platelet function in the pediatric age group was analyzed and it was found that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) present in fish oil especially exhibit in-vitro hyperaggregation and increase the secretion of platelets. As a result of this, we consider that it is necessary to be careful while using fish oil supplementation in children as an antithrombotic agent and for a variety of other indications.
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