title: Influence of polyunsaturated fatty acids on blood pressure, resting heart rate and heart rate variability among French Polynesians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the associations between marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and blood pressure (BP), resting heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV) in a population highly exposed to methylmercury through the diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in erythrocytes membranes were measured in 180 French Polynesian adults (≥18 years) residing in Tubuai, which is a community with a traditional lifestyle, or Papeete, which has a modern lifestyle. HRV was measured using a 2-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram (Holter). Resting HR and BP were measured using standardized protocols and pulse pressure (PP) was calculated as systolic BP - diastolic BP. The associations between n-3 PUFAs and the dependent variables were studied using simple and multiple linear regressions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increasing DHA concentration was associated with lower resting HR (β = -2.57, p = 0.005) and diastolic BP (β = -1.96, p = 0.05) and higher HRV in multivariable models. Specifically, DHA was associated with high frequency (HF; β = 0.19, p = 0.02) and the square root of the mean squared differences of successive R-R intervals (difference between two consecutive R waves; rMSSD; β = 0.08, p = 0.03), which are specific indices of the parasympathetic activity of the autonomic nervous system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DHA was associated with lower BP and resting HR and higher HRV among French Polynesians who are also exposed to high methylmercury levels.
authors: a Axe Santé des Populations et Environnement, Centre de Recherche du CHUQ , Quebec , CANADA (B.V., E.D.); Institut Louis Malardé , Papeete , POLYNÉSIE FRANÇAISE (E.S.); École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique, Département épidémiologie et biostatistiques , Paris , FRANCE (E.C.); IRIS , UMR 8156-997, Bobigny , FRANCE (E.C.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval Hospital Research Centre (P.P.), Faculty of Pharmacy (P.P.), Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (E.D.), Laval University , Quebec , CANADA.
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: Valera
authors: Edouard
authors: E
authors: Suhas
authors: Emilie
authors: E
authors: Counil
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Poirier
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Dewailly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004032:Diet; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011114:Polynesia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: blood pressure; heart rate variability; methylmercury; n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs); resting heart rate