title: Effect of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids on blood pressure in hypertension. A population-based intervention trial from the Tromsø study.
abstract: Studies of whether polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil--in particular, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids--lower blood pressure have varied in design and results. We conducted a population-based, randomized, 10-week dietary-supplementation trial in which the effects of 6 g per day of 85 percent eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids were compared with those of 6 g per day of corn oil in 156 men and women with previously untreated stable, mild essential hypertension. The mean systolic blood pressure fell by 4.6 mm Hg (P = 0.002), and diastolic pressure by 3.0 mm Hg (P = 0.0002) in the group receiving fish oil; there was no significant change in the group receiving corn oil. The differences between the groups remained significant for both systolic (6.4 mm Hg; P = 0.0025) and diastolic (2.8 mm Hg; P = 0.029) pressure after control for anthropometric, lifestyle, and dietary variables. The decreases in blood pressure were larger as concentrations of plasma phospholipid n-3 fatty acids increased (P = 0.027). Dietary supplementation with fish oil did not change mean blood pressure in the subjects who ate fish three or more times a week as part of their usual diet, or in those who had a base-line concentration of plasma phospholipid n-3 fatty acids above 175.1 mg per liter. We conclude that eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids reduce blood pressure in essential hypertension, depending on increases in plasma phospholipid n-3 fatty acids.
authors: Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, Norway.
authors: K H
authors: KH
authors: Bønaa
authors: K S
authors: KS
authors: Bjerve
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Straume
authors: I T
authors: IT
authors: Gram
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Thelle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003314:Corn Oil / Q000494:pharmacology; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D010743:Phospholipids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D003314:Corn Oil; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid