title: Effects of marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids on systemic hemodynamics at rest and during stress: a dose-response study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Omega-3 fatty acids reduced heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) in some studies, but dose-response studies are rare, and little is known about underlying mechanisms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined effects of 0.85 g/day eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (low dose) and 3.4 g/day EPA + DHA (high dose) on HR and systemic hemodynamics during rest, speech, and foot cold pressor tasks.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a dose-response, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, crossover trial (8-week treatment, 6-week washout) in 26 adults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Throughout the testing sessions, HR was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. The high dose reduced BP and stroke volume and increased pre-ejection period. Reductions in BP were associated with increases in erythrocyte omega-3 fatty acids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-dose long-chain omega-3 fatty acids can reduce BP and HR, at rest and during stress. These findings suggest that at-risk populations may achieve benefits with increased omega-3 intake.                 The trial was registered on                      ClinicalTrials.gov                                         (NCT00504309).
authors.affiliation: Departments of Nutritional Sciences (ACS, PMKE, SGW) and Biobehavioral Health (SGW), Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Ann C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Skulas-Ray
authors.forename: Penny M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kris-Etherton
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Sheila G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid