Investigators have directed attention to the potential role of marine polyunsaturated fatty acids as potential inhibitors of restenosis. Dietary fish oil has been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation and stimulate thromboxane synthesis, to reduce platelet vascular interactions in atherosclerotic and injured blood vessels, and to inhibit diet-induced atherogenesis in swine and in two species of monkeys. One study has shown that dietary fish oil administered to pigs reduced platelet deposition and vasoconstriction in balloon catheter induced carotid artery lesions. In addition, fish oil reduces blood and red cell viscosity and also inhibits the function of monocytes which may be important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis or in the vascular response to injury.