Inhibition of atherosclerosis by fish oil in cholesterol-fed rabbits.

To evaluate the effects of dietary fish oil on cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis, 36 New Zealand rabbits in four groups were fed a 0.3% cholesterol diet for 10 weeks. One group served as control, whereas groups I, II and III received 1, 2 and 3 ml/day, respectively, of fish oil (Protochol, eicosapentaenoic acid, 180 mg, and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA], 120 mg/ml). The percent of aortic and pulmonary atherosclerosis was measured by planimetry of sudanophilic lesions. The percent of aortic lesions in the control group was 59 +/- 22%. The two higher dose fish oil groups showed a significant reduction in aortic lesions: group I (40 +/- 26%, p = NS), group II (18 +/- 11%, p less than 0.01) and group III (36 +/- 22%, p less than 0.05). Area of pulmonary artery lesions was significantly higher in the control group (48 +/- 22%) as compared with group I (15 +/- 13%, p less than 0.01), group II (4 +/- 3%, p less than 0.01) and group III (8 +/- 9%, p less than 0.01). The high cholesterol diet in the control group decreased bleeding time from 82 +/- 17 to 59 +/- 22 s (p less than 0.05). Groups II and III showed an increased bleeding time (62 +/- 15 to 84 +/- 17 s and 66 +/- 22 to 95 +/- 27 s; p less than 0.05, respectively). Fish oil did not significantly alter total serum cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. In group II triglyceride decreased from 128 +/- 22 to 64 +/- 25 mg/dl (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)