title: Preliminary evidence that acute long-chain omega-3 supplementation reduces cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress: a randomized and placebo controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Some evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids improve cardiovascular function. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of an acute low dose of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids on young, healthy individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n=34) were randomly assigned to either 21-days of omega-3 fatty acids (1.4 g EPA and DHA) or matched placebo. Cardiovascular measurements were obtained in the laboratory during baseline and during a standard mental arithmetic task, where participants were instructed to engage in serial subtractions by 17s from a four-digit number and cardiovascular reactivity to the task was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean arterial pressure reactivity was significantly reduced by supplementation (F(1,32)=5. 12, p=.03, η(2)=.144) but not by placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce cardiovascular reactivity to stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Allegheny College, Meadville, PA 16335, USA. axg937@bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Annie T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ginty
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Conklin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids