title: Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on the vascular response to angiotensin in normotensive men.
abstract: There is a widespread interest in fish oil as a dietary supplement and possible nonpharmacologic adjunct in the treatment of hypertension. The effect of dietary fish oil on blood pressure is controversial and the effect on systemic hemodynamics and regional vascular reactivity in humans is unknown. To address these questions, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study on the effect of dietary fish oil substitution was performed during a carefully controlled diet in 8 normotensive men. Systemic hemodynamics and the forearm vascular response to intrabrachial artery infusions of norepinephrine, phentolamine and angiotensin II were obtained. Compared with a safflower oil placebo, dietary fish oil had no effect on cardiac output (6.42 +/- 0.38 vs 6.87 +/- 0.28 liters/min, p = not significant) or 24-hour blood pressure (122/68 +/- 3/3 vs 122/68 +/- 3/2 mm Hg, p = not significant). The vascular response to norepinephrine and phentolamine was unchanged. Fish oil, however, significantly (p < 0.05) reduced forearm vascular resistance responses to angiotensin II. These changes were associated with a reduction in plasma triglycerides (64 +/- 9 vs 39 +/- 4 mg/dl, p = 0.02) and an increase in plasma eicosapentaenoic acid levels (0.51 +/- 0.25 vs 1.72 +/- 0.35 microM, p < 0.05). Substitution of a moderate dose of fish oil for fat in a "Western diet" selectively attenuates the vascular response to angiotensin independently of changes in alpha-adrenergic vasoconstriction or systemic hemodynamics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Warltier
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pleuss
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Goodfriend
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Egan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D008055:Lipids; D000804:Angiotensin II; D012083:Renin