Omega-3 Suppresses Gastrointestinal Bleeding by Reducing Angiopoietin-2 Expression in LVAD Patients.

Purpose Omega-3, an unsaturated fatty acid, reduces the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). However, its biological mechanism remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the impact of omega-3 on angiogenesis. Methods We measured inflammatory and angiogenesis biomarkers in plasma from LVAD patients by using Bio-plex ProTM Biomarker Assay kit and compared their levels between those with and without omega-3 therapy. GIB rates were also compared between the two groups by using binomial negative regression analysis. Results Among 38 patients (mean age 56.4 years, 66% male), 16 (42%) received 4 g/day omega-3 therapy. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups (p >0.05 for all). The GIB rate was significantly lower in the omega-3 group (0.100 event/year vs. 0.381 event/year, p <0.001; Figure 1A). Among 18 biomarkers, only the angiopoietin-2 level was significantly lower in the omega-3 group compared with the control group (138 [93, 291] vs. 194 [154, 355] pg/mL, p = 0.045; Table 1). Conclusion LVAD patients treated with omega-3 have significantly lower GIB rates and significantly lower angiopoietin-2 levels. The reduction in GIB rate with omega-3 may be due to the suppression of abnormal angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]