Effects of α-linolenic acid supplementation in perilla oil on collagen-epinephrine closure time, activated partial thromboplastin time and Lp-PLA₂ activity in non-diabetic and hypercholesterolaemic subjects

We examined whether α-linolenic acid (ALA) alters total-cholesterol and haemostatic factors and the relationship between such alterations and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂). Eighty-six non-diabetic, borderline-to-moderate hypercholesterolaemic human subjects were divided into two groups: ALA group and placebo group. After 8 weeks of treatment, the ALA group exhibited significant increases in plasma ALA, and reductions in total- and LDL-cholesterol. The ALA group showed significantly greater reductions in total- and LDL-cholesterol, ox-LDL, apo B and Lp-PLA₂ activity and greater increases in plasma ALA, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and collagen-epinephrine (C-EPI) closure time (CT) than the placebo after adjusting for baseline levels. Independent and significant correlations between changes in C-EPI CT and plasma ALA, and between changes in aPTT and Lp-PLA₂, were observed. In conclusion, ALA supplementation was associated with prolonged C-EPI CT and aPTT and decreased Lp-PLA₂, which were mediated by decreasing LDL-cholesterol oxidation, thereby reducing substrate available for Lp-PLA₂ (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02609295; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).