Dietary supplementation with flaxseed oil lowers blood pressure in dyslipidaemic patients.
OBJECTIVE
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is the natural precursor of the cardioprotective long-chain n-3 fatty acids. Available data indicate a possible beneficial effect of ALA on cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the response of various CVD risk factors to increased ALA intake is not well characterized. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of increased ALA intake on blood pressure in man. DESIGN, SETTING, SUBJECTS AND INTERVENTIONS: We used a prospective, two-group, parallel-arm design to examine the effect of a 12-week dietary supplementation with flaxseed oil, rich in ALA (8 g/day), on blood pressure in middle-aged dyslipidaemic men (n=59). The diet of the control group was supplemented with safflower oil, containing the equivalent n-6 fatty acid (11 g/day linoleic acid (LA); n=28). Arterial blood pressure was measured at the beginning and at the end of the dietary intervention period.


RESULTS
Supplementation with ALA resulted in significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels compared with LA (P=0.016 and P=0.011, respectively, from analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures).


CONCLUSIONS
We observed a hypotensive effect of ALA, which may constitute another mechanism accounting in part for the apparent cardioprotective effect of this n-3 fatty acid.
Paschos
G K
GK
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Magkos
F
F
Panagiotakos
D B
DB
Votteas
V
V
Zampelas
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications* / Q000178:diet therapy; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D008043:Linseed Oil