Blood cell rheology – Influence of exercise and omega-3 fatty acids

Abstract

Thirteen male volunteers were submitted twice to a standardized ergometer test up to the point of physical exhaustion, once without and once with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. Hematocrit, plasma viscosity, red cell aggregation and blood cell filterability (St. George’s Filtrometer) were measured before and immediately after ergometry. Comparing the pre-exercise values, one finds a reduction of red cell aggregation and an increase in red cell deformability following omega-3 supplementation. After exercise there is an increase in red cell aggregation at stasis, plasma viscosity and hematocrit independent of supplementation. Red cell deformability and white cell behavior do not change significantly. The results confirm that acute exercise profoundly changes blood rheology and suggests that omega-3 fatty acids reduce red cell aggregation and enhance red cell deformability. It follows firstly that exercise can be used as a simple in vivo model to produce certain rheological changes in heal thy volunteers and that secondly omega-3 fatty acids have considerable potential for hemorheological therapy.