Different metabolic behavior of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in human platelets.

Abstract Whereas numerous studies deal with the effects and metabolism of eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5( n −3)) in platelets, very few concern docosahexaenoic acid (22:6( n −3)), although both acids are consumed in equal amounts from most fish fat. The present paper reports the modulation of 22:6( n −3) oxygenation as well as that of endogenous arachidonic acid (20:4( n −6)) in 22:6( n −3)-rich platelets. Like the oxygenation of 20:5( n −3), the lipoxygenation of 22:6( n −3) occurred at a low level when incubated alone, but was markedly increased in the presence of 20:4( n −6), suggesting a similar peroxide tone dependency. 20:5( n −3) could not replace 20:4( n −6) in the increasing 22:6( n −…