The long-term effect of advice to eat more fish on blood pressure in men with coronary disease: results from the diet and reinfarction trial.
BACKGROUND
Systematic reviews of fish and fish oil supplements have reported modest reductions in blood pressure (BP). Many of the trials included in these reviews used high doses of fish oil and most were of short duration.


METHODS
Between 1983 and 1987 2033 men under the age of 70, who had recently suffered a myocardial infarction, were enrolled in a 2-year trial of dietary advice-the Diet and Reinfarction Trial (DART). Participants were randomised in a factorial design to receive intensive advice to eat more fish, less fat or more fibre. Those men randomised to receive fish advice were encouraged to eat two portions of fatty fish each week. Intake of eicosapentaenoic acid was 0.33 g per day in the fish advice arm and 0.10 g per day in men not given fish advice.


RESULTS
The difference in systolic BP in the fish advice arm, adjusted for age and BP at baseline, was -0.61 mm Hg (95% CI -2.15, 0.92) at 6 months and 0.40 mm Hg (95% CI -1.33, 2.13) at 2 years. The difference in diastolic BP in the fish advice arm, adjusted for age and BP at baseline, was -0.50 mm Hg (95% CI -1.47, 0.46) at 6 months and 0.19 mm Hg (95% CI -0.88, 1.26) at 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Advice to eat modest amounts of fish has little effect on BP in men with coronary disease.
Ness
A R
AR
Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2PR, UK.
Whitley
E
E
Burr
M L
ML
Elwood
P C
PC
Smith
G D
GD
Ebrahim
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003971:Diastole; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013599:Systole; D017211:Treatment Failure