Omega oil

Hi just finished taking prednisalone have aching joints wondering is it ok to take fish oil supplements with ITP thanks marosa

In general, the so-called omega fatty acids make platelets less sticky, and so in some people with ITP can lead to more bleeding or bruising. From what I've read, this depends on the individual and his/her platelet count. I'd take it up with your hematologist, in the same way that I would regarding aspirin or other NSAIDs.

I regularly eat salmon and use flax oil on my vegetables. My hematologist is fine with his, as he is with my use of NSAIDS for neuropathic pain I deal with. But check first, and make sure your hematologist knows what you're doing. In some cases (or at some times, as has happened in my case), they really want you to avoid all that.

Just to add that aspirin and NSAIDS affect the platelets slightly differently. NSAIDS are fine with a high count, whereas aspirin is not simply because it affects each platelet for the whole of its life so if you have a platelet drop ten days after taking it, you would still have affected platelets around and would bleed more easily.

An excellent point. I've noticed that in my own experience with aspirin versus NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen. From what I've read and heard, naproxen has the lowest bleeding risk overall of NSAIDs. It's what my hematologist is most comfortable (least uncomfortable?) with my using for my osteo.

I can't give you scientific advice, but I can relay my recent experience.
Even with a steady dose of prednisone, I'm having trouble keeping my count stable. It's been dipping below 10 too often.
I've been taking just one fish oil capsule a day (containing 360 mgs omega-3) for at least a year. Since my count is so unsteady, and I do get some minor bleeding signs at very low counts, I experimented with stopping the fish oil in order to make the platelets I have stickier and better able to clot when needed. The experiment hasn't worked.

I'm almost certain that the fish oil raised my HDL to an excellent level that I'd love to maintain. So I went searching for evidence that it's strictly contraindicated with ITP. A paragraph about fish oil supplements at the livestrong website apparently includes information obtained from the AHA on the subject - not ITP specifically, only about bleeding and omega 3s.
Livestrong says:
"Make sure that you do not consume more than 3 g of omega-3 fatty acids, as high quantities of these lipids can increase your risk of developing bleeding problems, warns the AHA."
It would take a lot of digging to find the exact AHA statement on the subject, but I guess it could be done. I won't bother, because I don't take nearly that amount of fish oil. I'll be going back to the fish oil today.

Interesting experience. A quick search on PubMed using the keywords "thrombocytopenia and omega fatty acid" resulted in the following article:

Effects of dietary fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids on platelets and blood vessels.

Our understanding of the effects of fish oil and the omega-3 fatty acids on platelet and vascular composition and function has increased substantially in the last decade. It is clear that the omega-3 fatty acids found in marine oils may be incorporated into the cell membranes of platelets and endothelial cells and that they may alter the synthesis of prostaglandins. Platelet function is modestly inhibited, and platelet and vascular interactions appear to be modified in humans. It is far too early to advocate widespread prophylactic or therapeutic use of dietary fish oils to prevent or reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Additional studies are needed, especially in respect to the prevention or regression of atherosclerosis, inhibition of arterial thrombosis, and long-term toxicity.

PMID: 2845585

If you want to find specific content in a web site, you can use Google's site search syntax "insite: <site name>" with your search query. Similarly, the syntax "inurl:" is useful when trying to find content in a specific part of a URL: "inurl: forum.xxx.xxx.com". I found some interesting content on LiveStrong at this url: www.livestrong.com/article/543113-can-fish-oil-affect-blood-platelets/ .

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