Li et al., Platelet phospholipid n-3 PUFA negatively associated with
plasma homocysteine in middle-aged and geriatric hyperlipaemia
patients, Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids,
avail on-line 4/26/07.

Studies showed that increased dietary intake of n−3 polyunsaturated
fatty acids (PUFA) has a cardiovascular beneficial effect. Increased
plasma phospholipid (PL) docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n−3) is associated
with decreased plasma homocysteine (Hcy). The aim of this study was to
investigate the relationship between platelet PL fatty acid and plasma
Hcy in middle-aged and geriatric hyperlipaemia patients (50 males, 31
females) and 65 healthy subjects (43 males, 22 females) in Hangzhou,
China. Plasma Hcy demonstrated significant positive correlation with
adrenic acid (22:4n−6) (r=0.188, P=0.018) and negative correlation
with 22:6n−3 (r=–0.277, P=0.001) and the ratio of n−3/n−6 (r=–0.231,
P=0.003) in sex-, age- and BMI-controlled partial correlation
analysis. The present results suggest that increased ratio of n−3/n−6
PUFA in platelet PL is associated with decreased thrombotic risks such
as plasma Hcy in middle-aged and geriatric hyperlipaemia patients in
Hangzhou.

Marilyn