Essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6) may be of therapeutic value in Raynaud's phenomenon through reducing red blood cel aggregation. - GreenMedInfo Summary
The beneficial effects of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acid supplementation on red blood cell rheology.
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 1999 Jul;61(1):13-7. PMID: 10477036
Twenty healthy, non-smoking subjects were enrolled into a study to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with essential fatty acid (EFAs) on red blood cell rheology. Ten subjects were given 3 months dietary supplementation with long chain polyunsaturated EFAs containing omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs while 10 others were given placebo (sunflower oil). Venous sampling was performed at 0 and 12 weeks and red blood cell (RBC) aggregation and deformability measured by a filtration system. The results showed a reduction in RBC aggregation in the group given omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs but not in the placebo group. This may be related to changes in the RBC membrane and surface receptor characteristics. Such EFAs may be useful in Raynaud's phenomenon.