Methods for Comparing Effects of Various Fats on Fibrinolysis. ∗

Abstract

Summary

In experiments reported herein. 2 new methods have been utilized to compare the biologic effect of 3 dietary fats. (1) In Exp. 1 a study has been made in rabbits of the effect of single meals of butter, corn oil, coconut oil and water on fibrinolytic activity of blood (drawn 3 hours after feeding and measured by a technic utilizing streptokinase to activate profibrinolysin) in vitro under controlled conditions. Lysis time so measured was significantly prolonged in rabbits fed butter as compared with those fed either corn oil, coconut oil or water. Meals of corn oil and coconut oil had no more effect on lysis time than did water. (2) In Exp. 2 the effect of butter, corn oil, coconut oil and saline added in vitro on fibrinolytic activity of clotted human plasma was measured by a technic utilizing streptokinase to activate profibrinolysin under controlled conditions. Under these conditions butter markedly and significantly (p = 0.01) prolonged lysis time of human plasma, whereas corn oil and coconut oil had a lesser effect. (3) Other substances and approaches must be studied before definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding relationships of various fats to arteriosclerosis and thrombosis in man. Our experiments are significant in that an additional approach (which may be particularly useful for rapid screening) has been added to our armamentarium for study of biologic effects of various fats.