Fish oil, but not flaxseed oil, decreases inflammation and prevents pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical studies suggest that intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA) may lower the incidence of heart failure. Dietary supplementation with omega-3 PUFA exerts metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects that could prevent left ventricle (LV) pathology; however, it is unclear whether these effects occur at clinically relevant doses and whether there are differences between omega-3 PUFA from fish [eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] and vegetable sources [alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)].


RESULTS
We assessed the development of LV remodelling and pathology in rats subjected to aortic banding treated with omega-3 PUFA over a dose range that spanned the intake of humans taking omega-3 PUFA supplements. Rats were fed a standard food or diets supplemented with EPA+DHA or ALA at 0.7, 2.3, or 7% of energy intake. Without supplementation, aortic banding increased LV mass and end-systolic and -diastolic volumes. ALA supplementation had little effect on LV remodelling and dysfunction. In contrast, EPA+DHA dose-dependently increased EPA and DHA, decreased arachidonic acid in cardiac membrane phospholipids, and prevented the increase in LV end-diastolic and -systolic volumes. EPA+DHA resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the anti-inflammatory adipokine adiponectin, and there was a strong correlation between the prevention of LV chamber enlargement and plasma levels of adiponectin (r = -0.78). Supplementation with EPA+DHA had anti-aggregatory and anti-inflammatory effects as evidenced by decreases in urinary thromboxane B(2) and serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary supplementation with omega-3 PUFA derived from fish, but not from vegetable sources, increased plasma adiponectin, suppressed inflammation, and prevented cardiac remodelling and dysfunction under pressure overload conditions.
Duda
Monika K
MK
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland-Baltimore, 20 Penn Street, HSF2, Room S022, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
O'Shea
Karen M
KM
Tintinu
Anselm
A
Xu
Wenhong
W
Khairallah
Ramzi J
RJ
Barrows
Brian R
BR
Chess
David J
DJ
Azimzadeh
Agnes M
AM
Harris
William S
WS
Sharov
Victor G
VG
Sabbah
Hani N
HN
Stanley
William C
WC
D000263:Adenylate Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000517:prevention & control; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000652:urine; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*
D052242:Adiponectin; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D010743:Phospholipids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013929:Thromboxane B2; D008043:Linseed Oil; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D000263:Adenylate Kinase; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains