The influence of linseed oil diet on fatty acid pattern in phospholipids and thromboxane formation in platelets in man.

Ten healthy volunteers daily received 30 ml linseed oil for 4 weeks in addition to the "normal" diet. The influence of linseed oil diet on the fatty acid pattern of plasma phospholipids and thromboxane formation in platelets was investigated. The fatty acid pattern was analysed by gas liquid chromatography. The alpha-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids were increased (p less than 0.01), whereas linoleic and arachidonic acids were decreased (p less than 0.05) after 4 weeks of the linseed oil diet. The thromboxane formation of platelets were unchanged. Additionally the influence of HDL and LDL on PGI2 biosynthesis in pig aortic microsomes (PAM) was investigated. HDL taken from serum before and after 3 weeks of linseed oil diet and LDL taken after 3 weeks of diet stimulated the PGI2 formation in PAM, whereas LDL taken from serum before the diet period inhibited the PGI2 formation in PAM.