Effect of the dietary fat type on arterial thrombosis tendency: systematic studies with a rat model

To study the influence of dietary fatty acids on arterial thrombosis tendency 65 groups of male rats were fed diets containing 50% of their digestible energy as fat from 32 different oils and fats. After 8 weeks their arterial thrombosis tendency was assessed by measuring the obstruction time (OT) of a loop-shaped polythene cannula inserted into the abdominal aorta. Using multiple regression analysis log10 OT was modelled as a function of the relative amounts of the various dietary fatty acids and their combinations. The best fit (R2 = 0.79) was obtained for the sums of all monoenoic and (n-6) and (n-3) polyenoic fatty acids, which appeared antithrombotic. The fit for the sum of all saturated fatty acids, which had a prothrombotic effect, was almost as good (R2 = 0.76). The ratio between dietary polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids (P:S ratio) appeared a strong predictor of arterial thrombosis tendency (R2 = 0.77). Marine oils did not have a more powerful antithrombotic effect than could be expected on the basis of their P:S ratios. Using stepwise regression analysis myristic acid, 14:0, was shown to be the strongest prothrombotic fatty acid whereas linoleic acid, 18:2(n-6), was the strongest antithrombotic fatty acid. Since the number of marine oils was very limited the effects of the 'fish fatty acids' eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5(n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6(n-3), on arterial thrombus formation could not be tested reliably. The same appeared true for gamma-linolenic acid, 18:3(n-6), and stearidonic acid, 18:4(n-3), present in a few vegetable oils only.