title: Effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on heart rate variability at rest and during acute stress in adults with moderate hypertriglyceridemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the dose-dependent effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on heart rate variability (HRV) at rest and during standard laboratory stress tasks. We also investigated whether EPA + DHA supplementation was associated with changes in mood state.
  
  
  METHODS
  This placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, three-period crossover trial (8-week treatment, 6-week washout) compared two doses of EPA + DHA supplementation (0.85 and 3.4 g/d) in 26 adults with elevated triglycerides. After each treatment period, HRV was assessed during an acute stress protocol that included a resting baseline, standard laboratory stress tasks (speech task and cold pressor), and recovery periods. In addition, mood state was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Root mean square of successive differences in interbeat interval and total power increased 9.9% and 20.6%, respectively, after the high dose relative to placebo (Tukey p = .016 and .012, respectively). The low dose was not significantly different from the high dose or placebo dose. There was a trend for a treatment effect on high-frequency HRV (p = .058), with 21.0% greater power observed after the high dose compared with placebo (Tukey p = .052). Mood did not differ between treatments, and there was no association between mood state and HRV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In healthy adults with elevated triglycerides, supplementation of 3.4 g/d EPA + DHA resulted in greater HRV, whereas 0.85 g/d EPA + DHA had no effect. These results indicate that EPA + DHA supplementation may improve autonomic tone in adults at increased risk for cardiovascular disease within 8 weeks.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT00504309 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sauder
authors.forename: Ann C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Skulas-Ray
authors.forename: Tavis S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Jillian A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Penny M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kris-Etherton
authors.forename: Sheila G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D012146:Rest; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; C405603:Omacor
keywords: acute stress; docosahexaenoic acid; eicosapentaenoic acid; heart rate variability; omega-3 fatty acids