Related Experiment Videos
Monounsaturated fatty acid-enriched diet decreases plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1
F Lopez-Segura1, F Velasco, J Lopez-Miranda
1Unidad de Lípidos y Arteriosclerosis, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Córdoba, Spain.
Insights
A diet rich in monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) significantly lowers plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) levels, a key factor in coronary heart disease. This reduction correlates with decreased insulin levels, suggesting a link between diet, fibrinolysis, and metabolic health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Nutritional Science
- Hemostasis and Thrombosis
Background:
- Elevated plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) is a significant hemostatic alteration in coronary heart disease patients.
- Limited research exists on the impact of dietary fatty acids on the fibrinolytic system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of monounsaturated fat (MUFA)-rich diets versus low-fat diets on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis factors.
- To assess the influence of dietary cholesterol on these hemostatic parameters.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-one healthy young males consumed four diets for 24 days each: low-fat/high-carbohydrate and MUFA-rich diets, each with two levels of dietary cholesterol.
- Plasma levels of fibrinogen, thrombin-antithrombin complexes, prothrombin fragments 1+2, plasminogen, alpha 2 antiplasmin, and tissue plasminogen activator were measured.
- PAI-1 activity and antigenic levels, along with insulin levels, were analyzed.
Main Results:
- MUFA-rich diets significantly decreased plasma PAI-1 activity and antigenic PAI-1 compared to the National Cholesterol Education Program step 1 (NCEP-1) diet.
- No significant differences were observed in other measured coagulation and fibrinolysis factors across diets.
- Dietary cholesterol did not exert a significant additional effect on the studied parameters.
- Changes in insulin levels were positively correlated with PAI-1 activity.
Conclusions:
- Diets rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) effectively reduce plasma PAI-1 activity.
- The observed decrease in PAI-1 is associated with a parallel reduction in plasma insulin levels.
- Dietary interventions focusing on MUFA intake may be beneficial for managing hemostatic risk factors in cardiovascular disease.
Abstract:
An increase in levels of plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) is one of the main hemostatic alterations in patients with coronary heart disease. Despite growing interest in the fibrinolytic system, few studies have been undertaken to determine the effect exerted on it by the different dietary fatty acids. We investigated the effect of a monounsaturated fat (MUFA)-rich diet in comparison with a low-fat diet (National Cholesterol Education Program step 1 diet) (NCEP-1) on factors involved in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. We also determined the effect of dietary cholesterol on these blood parameters. Twenty-one young, male, healthy volunteers followed two low-fat/high-carbohydrate diets (< 30% fat, < 10% saturated fat, 14% MUFA) for 24 days each, with 115 or 280 mg of cholesterol per 1000 kcal per day, and two oleic acid-enriched diets (38% fat, 24% MUFA) with the same dietary cholesterol as the low-fat/high-carbohydrate diets. Plasma levels of fibrinogen, thrombin-antithrombin complexes, prothrombin fragments 1+2, plasminogen, alpha 2 antiplasmin, and tissue plasminogen activator were not significantly different among the experimental diets used in this study. Consumption of the diet rich in MUFA resulted in a significant decrease in both PAI-1 plasma activity (P < .005) and antigenic PAI-1 (P < .04) compared with the carbohydrate-rich diet (NCEP-1). The addition of dietary cholesterol to each of these diets did not result in any significant additional effect. Changes in insulin levels and PAI-1 activity were positively correlated (r = .425; P < .02). In conclusion, consumption of diets rich in MUFAs decreases PAI-1 plasma activity, which is accompanied by a parallel decrease in plasma insulin levels.