Cod-liver oil in the prevention of intimal hyperplasia in autogenous vein grafts used for arterial bypass

Cod-liver oil, rich in eicosapentaenoic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid, was administered to 14 mongrel dogs to determine if this acid would prevent platelet-mediated intimal hyperplasia. Twenty-eight 1 cm segments of undistended jugular vein were interposed between bilaterally divided femoral arteries. Seven control animals were fed a 2% cholesterol diet 1 week before and for 6 weeks after the operation. A further seven animals received cod-liver oil capsules containing 1.8 gm of eicosapentaenoic acid daily 1 week before and for 6 weeks after autogenous vein implantation, in addition to the lipid-supplemented diet Baseline serum cholesterol was 4.6 ± 0.4 mmol/L. The rise in serum cholesterol was similar in the two groups and increased to 7.4 ± 0.6 mmol/L (control group) and to 6.8 ± 0.2 mmol/L (eicosapentaenoic acid group) (p