Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Coagulant Effects of Salmon Polar Lipids

Inflammation is a normal immune response to tissue healing. However, uncontrolled and unresolved inflammation can initiate and further induce several chronic manifestations that contribute to chronic disorders such as atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). A 'cross-talk' between platelets, endothelial cells and leukocytes, accompanied by activation and aggregation of platelets, contribute to inflammation-related atherogenic, atherosclerotic and athero-thrombotic events. Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) and Thrombin are the most potent platelet agonists inducing platelet activation and aggregation that are also implicated in the patho-physiology of platelets and endothelium and thus in inflammation-related chronic disorders. Therefore, the inhibition of PAF and Thrombin related pathways of platelet aggregation, coagulation and inflammation provide a potential therapeutic strategy for anti-platelet, anti-coagulation and suppression of inflammatory responses in CVDs and other chronic disorders. The investigators have previously reported bio-active lipid molecules with strong anti-PAF and anti-Thrombin effects to be present in natural, non-toxic food, microorganisms, plants and especially in several marine sources. The plethora of in vitro beneficial bio-activities of marine polar lipids (PLs) against atherosclerosis and CVDs indicate therapeutic potential. Recently, the investigators have also demonstrated that PLs extracted from Irish, organic farmed salmon (Salmo salar) display strong in vitro anti-thrombotic effects against platelet aggregation, bio-activities that were related to inhibitory effect against PAF and Thrombin pathways. The present study investigates the putative anti-platelet effects in healthy human subjects following ingestion of a novel supplement containing food-grade extracts of bio-active salmon polar lipids (FGE-Salmon-PLs). The study has a double blind randomized cross-over placebo-controlled design in healthy subjects. Each Sub