title: Blood pressure and atherogenic lipoprotein profiles of fish-diet and vegetarian villagers in Tanzania: the Lugalawa study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is evidence that populations with a high intake of fish, and specifically fish oils, are at reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. To explore the effect of fish intake, we compared two groups of Bantu villagers in Tanzania; one group live on the shores of Lake Nyasa and their diet includes large amounts of freshwater fish; the other group live in the nearby hills and have a vegetarian diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a cross-sectional study of 622 fish-consuming villagers and 686 vegetarian villagers. 618 (99.4%) and 645 (94.0%), respectively, agreed to take part. Anthropometric and self-reported medical history data were collected by one local physician and a medical assistant, who also measured blood pressure and took blood samples for measurement of plasma lipids. A dietary questionnaire was administered to 25 families (about 15% of the study population) in each village.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for age, sex, and alcohol intake the fish-consuming group had lower mean blood pressure than the vegetarian group (123/72 vs 133/76 mm Hg, p < 0.001). The frequencies of definite and borderline hypertension (by WHO criteria) were lower in the fish-consuming than in the vegetarian group (2.8 vs 16.4%; 9.7 vs 22.3%, respectively). Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (mean 3.53 [SD 1.04] vs 4.10 [1.04] mmol/L), triglycerides (0.92 [0.64] vs 1.31 [0.64] mmol/L), and lipoprotein(a) (201 [213] vs 321 [212] mg/L), were all lower (p < 0.0001) in the fish-consuming group than in the vegetarian group. The proportions of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma lipids were higher (p < 0.0001) in the fish-consuming group than in the vegetarian group (eicosapentaenoic acid 2.3 [1.3] vs 0.7 [0.2]%; docosapentaenoic acid 1.1 [0.4] vs 0.6 [0.3]%; docosahexaenoic acid 5.7 [1.6] vs 1.5 [1.1]%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In these villagers, consumption of freshwater fish (300-600 g daily) was associated with raised plasma concentrations of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, lower blood pressure, and lower plasma lipid concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pauletto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puato
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Caroli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Casiglia
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Munhambo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cazzolato
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bittolo Bon
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Angeli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pessina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D002149:Energy Intake; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D008074:Lipoproteins