Dietary supplementation with marine omega-3 fatty acids improve systemic large artery endothelial function in subjects with hypercholesterolemia.
OBJECTIVE
This work was undertaken to determine whether dietary supplementation with marine omega-3 fatty acids improve systemic large artery endothelial function in subjects with hypercholesterolemia.


BACKGROUND
Marine omega-3 fatty acids improve vascular function, but the underlying mechanism(s) are unclear. We studied the effects of marine omega-3 fatty acids on large artery endothelial function in subjects with hypercholesterolemia.


METHODS
Hypercholesterolemic subjects with no other known cause for endothelial dysfunction were recruited to a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study. Treatment with omega-3 fatty acids at a dose of 4 g/day (n = 15/group) was compared with placebo, at the beginning (day 0) and end (day 120) of a four-month treatment period. Endothelial function was assessed pre- and posttreatment by noninvasive ultrasonic vessel wall tracking of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD).


RESULTS
Treatment with marine omega-3 fatty acids resulted in a significant improvement in FMD (0.05 +/- 0.12 to 0.12 +/- 0.07 mm, p < 0.05) and a significant reduction in triglycerides (2.07 +/- 1.13 to 1.73 +/- 0.95 mmol/liter, p < 0.05), whereas treatment with placebo resulted in no change in FMD (0.03 +/- 0.10 to 0.04 +/- 0.10 mm) or triglycerides (2.29 +/- 2.09 to 2.05 +/- 1.36 mmol/liter) (both p < 0.05 treated compared with control). Responses to sublingual glyceryl trinitrate were unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
Marine omega-3 fatty acids improve large artery endothelium-dependent dilation in subjects with hypercholesterolemia without affecting endothelium-independent dilation.
Goodfellow
J
J
Cardiovascular Sciences Research Group, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom. GoodfellowJ@Cardiff.ac.UK
Bellamy
M F
MF
Ramsey
M W
MW
Jones
C J
CJ
Lewis
M J
MJ
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol