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 Subject will be administrated the FGE-Salmon-PLs Food Supplement capsules for 28 days (a capsule containing 0.125 g of FGE-Salmon-PLs per day) and platelet sensitivity against both PAF and Thrombin will be tested in blood samples of each subject just before and after the supplement administration. The same tests will be conducted in blood samples of each participant in a crossover design before and after 28 days of placebo capsules administration (a capsule containing 0.125 g of glycerin per day).

The present study investigates the putative anti-platelet effects in healthy human subjects (N=20) 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.

After appropriate screening, 20 of the recruited subjects will provide baseline blood samples and then 10 of them will be initially administered a food supplement capsule (containing 0.125 g of FGE-Salmon-PLs) per day for a period of 28 days, while another 10 of them will initially be administered a placebo capsule (containing 0.125 g of glycerin) per day, in a double blind and randomized way.

After the period of 28 days, each participant will provide blood samples at the 29th day.

Then a washout period of 14 days will follow, in which each participant will not be administered any kind of supplements or placebo capsules.

After this washout period of 14 days, each participant will provide again new baseline blood samples and then in a crossover design the participants that were initially administered the food supplement will now be administered the placebo capsules for 28 days (a placebo capsule per day), while likewise the participants that were initially administered the supplement capsules will now be administered the food supplement capsules for 28 days.

After this new period of 28 days, each participant will provide again blood samples at the new 29th day.

Plasma reach in platelets of all blood samples from each participant, before and after each kind of administration (of either placebo or supplement capsules), will be tested for their platelet sensitivity against both PAF and Thrombin induced platelet aggregation.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* The selection criteria of the subjects will be as follows:

  1. they need to be off medication and off intake of dietary supplements
  2. they need to have no blood clotting disorders or dyslipidaemia and

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects with clotting disorders, dyslipidemia or being on medication (i.e. statins) or other supplements during the study will be excluded.