A diet enriched with mackerel (Scomber scombrus)-derived products improves the endothelial function in a senior population (Prevención de las Enfermedades Cardiovasculares: Estudio Santoña--PECES project).
BACKGROUND
Regular consumption of fish reduces cardiovascular risks. Here, we investigate if the consumption of products with mackerel (Scomber scombrus) with 8.82 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content per 100 g of product improves parameters of endothelial function in a controlled population.


METHODS
Subjects maintained a 12-week diet with products with mackerel. The population consisted of 58 senior subjects (12 withdrawals, 25 women), aged 82.08 +/- 8.13 years (Group A). Twenty-three senior subjects (13 women) on a regular diet were used as the control group (Group B). Subjects of Group A received 57 portions throughout 12 weeks (four to five portions a week of products with a mean EPA + DHA content of 2.5 g a day). A continuous follow-up and a final evaluation were performed to determine the level of consumption. Plasma samples were stored at -70 degrees C for a biochemical study. Endothelial function was analysed by reactive hyperemia with a mercury strain gauge plethysmography with measurement of blood flow in the forearm, both baseline and at the end of the 12-week diet.


RESULTS
Endothelium-dependent vasodilatation significantly increased in Group A subjects (P < 0.001). No changes were found in Group B. The subgroup analyses showed that improvements were produced in Group A subjects without cardiovascular disease (P < 0.001). Nitrites/nitrates and von Willebrand factor plasma concentrations were higher in participants after the 12-week diet.


CONCLUSIONS
The consumption of mackerel meat products improves endothelium-dependent, flow-mediated vasodilatation in a senior population. This finding might explain some of the cardioprotective effects of fish consumption.
de Berrazueta
J R
JR
Universitary Hospital M Valdecilla, Santander, Spain. joseramon@berrazueta.com
Gómez de Berrazueta
J M
JM
Amado Señarís
J A
JA
Peña Sarabia
N
N
Fernández Viadero
C
C
García-Unzueta
M T
MT
Sáez de Adana
M
M
Sanchez Ovejero
C J
CJ
Llorca
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010473:Perciformes; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid