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Thromb Haemost 2019; 119(12): 2053-2063
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1697663
Stroke, Systemic or Venous Thromboembolism
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Dietary Intake of Marine Polyunsaturated n-3 Fatty Acids and Risk of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism

Trond Isaksen
1   Department of Clinical Medicine, K.G. Jebsen Thrombosis Research and Expertise Center (TREC), UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
2   Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
,
Line H. Evensen
1   Department of Clinical Medicine, K.G. Jebsen Thrombosis Research and Expertise Center (TREC), UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
2   Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
,
Sigrid K. Brækkan
1   Department of Clinical Medicine, K.G. Jebsen Thrombosis Research and Expertise Center (TREC), UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
2   Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
,
John-Bjarne Hansen
1   Department of Clinical Medicine, K.G. Jebsen Thrombosis Research and Expertise Center (TREC), UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
2   Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
› Author Affiliations
Funding The K.G. Jebsen-Thrombosis Research and Expertise Center is supported by an independent grant from Stiftelsen Kristian Gerhard Jebsen.
Further Information

Publication History

07 May 2019

15 August 2019

Publication Date:
28 October 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Background Limited knowledge exists on the association between intake of long-chained n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) and risk of recurrence and all-cause mortality in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Objectives This article investigates whether intake of marine n-3 PUFAs was associated with risk of recurrence and mortality in patients with incident VTE.

Methods A total of 595 patients with incident VTE and available data on n-3 PUFA intake were derived from the Tromsø Study surveys 4 (1994–1995) and 6 (2007–2008). Weekly intake of n-3 PUFAs was categorized as low, medium, and high based on tertiles. Recurrent VTEs and all-cause mortality were registered up to December 31, 2016. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox regression models with the low intake category as reference.

Results There were 98 recurrent VTEs and 227 deaths during follow-up. Overall, we found no association between intake of n-3 PUFAs and risk of recurrent VTE. However, inverse associations were found for high intakes in patients with unprovoked VTE (HR 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20–1.01), cancer-free patients (HR 0.51, 95% CI: 0.27–0.95), and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) patients (HR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.24–0.97). The inverse associations were more evident when follow-up was restricted to the time after discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy. No association was observed between intake of n-3 PUFAs and mortality after incident VTE.

Conclusion A high dietary intake of marine n-3 PUFAs was associated with lower risk of recurrent VTE after unprovoked index events, DVT, and in cancer-free patients.

Keywords

diet - omega-3 fatty acids - recurrence - risk factors - venous thromboembolism

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