Mackerel oil and atherosclerosis in pigs.

In 35 pigs atherosclerosis was induced by balloon abrasion and a diet containing 2% (w/w) cholesterol and 7% (w/w) lard fat. After 4 months of induction nine animals were killed (I) for analysis of the extent of atherosclerosis, while the diet of the other 26 pigs was changed to a low cholesterol diet containing either 9% (w/w) lard fat (L), 9% (w/w) fish oil (F) or 4.5% (w/w) lard fat and 4.5% (w/w) fish oil (LF). This diet was continued for 3 months to induce regression of atherosclerosis. The cholesterol-rich diet increased plasma total cholesterol, but did not affect plasma triglycerides. Low-cholesterol feeding decreased plasma total cholesterol in all three groups, but triglycerides only in LF and F. Lipid infiltration of the aortic wall was similar in I, L, LF and F. In the denudated coronary arteries of I mean luminal encroachment was 11 +/- 2%. This was similar in L (13 +/- 4%) but significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in LF (6 +/- 2%) and in F (3 +/- 1%). In the non-abraded coronary arteries of I mean luminal encroachment was 1.3 +/- 0.3%. For F and LF similar values were found, but in L there was an increase to 11 +/- 3% during low-cholesterol feeding. ADP-induced platelet aggregation was lower in LF and F than in L. Thromboxane A2 production was only reduced in F, while the production of the weak thromboxane A3 agonist was larger in F than in LF. It is concluded that fish oil retards the progression of and causes regression of coronary atherosclerosis.