title: The effects of dietary fatty acid supplementation on endothelial function and vascular tone in healthy subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of the effects of supplementation of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids on vascular tone and endothelial function in healthy men and women aged 40 to 65 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled study, 173 healthy volunteers took one of six oil supplements for 8 months. Supplements were placebo, oleic acid rich sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, soya bean oil, tuna fish oil, and tuna/evening primrose oil mix. Endothelium-dependent and independent vascular responses were measured in the forearm skin using laser Doppler imaging following iontophoretic applications of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acetylcholine, but not sodium nitroprusside responses were significantly improved after tuna oil supplementation (P=0.02). Additionally, there were significant positive correlations between acetylcholine responses and n-3 fatty acid levels in the plasma and erythrocyte membrane phospholipids after tuna oil supplementation. No significant changes in vascular response were seen after supplementation with any of the other oils.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fish oil supplementation has a beneficial effect on endothelial function, even in normal healthy subjects. Modification of the diet by an increase of 6% in eicosapentaenoic acid and 27% in docosahexaenoic acid (equivalent to eating oily fish 2-3 times/week) might have significant beneficial effects on cardiovascular function and health.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Diseases Research Unit, University Department of Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK. fkhan@dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: Faisel
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Elherik
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bolton-Smith
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Inez
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Murrie
authors.forename: Jill J F
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Belch
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine; D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014413:Tuna; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D000109:Acetylcholine