title: Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation and blood pressure levels in hypertriglyceridemic patients with untreated normal-high blood pressure and with or without metabolic syndrome: a retrospective study.
abstract: Recent evidence suggests that at least a part of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) heart protective effect is mediated by a relatively small but significant decrease in blood pressure level. We retrospectively evaluated the long-term effect of a PUFA supplementation on the blood pressure level of 111 hypertriglyceridemic subjects with untreated normal-high blood pressure that were prescribed a 2 grams PUFA supplementation in order to improve their plasma lipid pattern. After 12 months of treatment, systolic blood pressure (SBP) meanly decreased by 2.7 +/- 2.5 mmHg (p = 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 1.3 +/- 3.3 mmHg (p < 0.001), while basal heart rate decreased by 4.0 +/- 4.4 bpm (p < 0.001). Both SBP and DBP reduction were significantly related to the baseline SBP (p < 0.001) and DBP (p < 0.001), respectively. Diastolic blood pressure change was also inversely related to the patient's age (p = 0.004). No significant difference was perceived in the metabolic syndrome subgroup. In our retrospective study, highly purified omega-3 PUFA long-term supplementation is associated with a significant reduction in SBP, DBP, Pulse pressure (PP), and basal heart rate in hypertriglyceridemic patients with normal-high blood pressure. No significant difference was perceived in the metabolic syndrome subgroup. The main determinants of the PUFA anti-hypertensive effect appear to be the basal blood pressure level and age.
authors.affiliation: Lipid Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Aging and Kidney Diseases, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. afgcicero@cardionet.it
authors.forename: Arrigo F G
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Derosa
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Gregori
authors.forename: Marilisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.forename: Antonio V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Gaddi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borghi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D008055:Lipids