Effect of omega-3 Fatty Acids and Simvastatin on Hemostatic Risk Factors and Postprandial Hyperlipemia in Patients With Combined Hyperlipemia

Patients with combined hyperlipemia have lipid abnormalities associated with an increased tendency to develop atherosclerosis and thrombosis. This tendency may be accelerated during postprandial hyperlipemia. In the present double-blind parallel study, 41 patients with combined hyperlipemia and serum triacylglycerols between 2.0 and 15.0 mmol/L and serum total cholesterol >5.3 mmol/L at the end of a 3-month dietary run-in period were treated with simvastatin at 20 mg/d for at least 10 weeks; patients were then randomized into 2 groups receiving simvastatin+omega-3 fatty acids at 3.36 g/d or placebo (corn oil) for an additional 5 weeks. Hemostatic variables that have been associated with increased thrombotic tendency were evaluated with subjects in the fasting state and during postprandial hyperlipemia before and after combined treatment. Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acid reduced tissue factor pathway inhibitor antigen (P