Effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on arterial elasticity in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia on statin therapy.
Increased arterial stiffness is closely linked with raised blood pressure that contributes substantially to enhanced risk of coronary heart disease in high risk individuals with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). Omega-3 fatty acid (ω3-FA) supplementation has been demonstrated to lower blood pressure in subjects with a high cardiovascular disease risk. Whether ω3-FA supplementation improves arterial stiffness in FH subjects, on background statin therapy, has yet to be investigated.



We carried out an 8-week randomized, crossover intervention trial to test the effect of 4 g/d ω3-FA supplementation (46% eicosapentaenoic acid and 38% docosahexaenoic acid) on arterial elasticity in 20 adults with FH on optimal cholesterol-lowering therapy. Large and small artery elasticity were measured by pulse contour analysis of the radial artery. ω3-FA supplementation significantly (P < 0.05 in all) increased large artery elasticity (+9%) and reduced systolic blood pressure (-6%) and diastolic blood pressure (-6%), plasma triglycerides (-20%), apoB concentration (-8%). In contrast, ω3-FAs had no significant effect on small artery elasticity. The change in large artery elasticity was not significantly associated with changes in systolic blood pressure or plasma triglyceride concentration.



ω3-FA supplementation improves large arterial elasticity and arterial blood pressure independent of statin therapy in adults with FH.



https://www.clinicaltrials.com/NCT01577056.
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
D C
DC
Chan
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
J
J
Pang
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
P H R
PH
Barrett
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
D R
DR
Sullivan
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
T A
TA
Mori
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital Network, Perth, Australia.
J R
JR
Burnett
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital Network, Perth, Australia; School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
F M
FM
van Bockxmeer
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: gerald.watts@uwa.edu.au.
G F
GF
Watts
D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100 / Q000097:blood; D062186:Arterial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069438:Ezetimibe / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects*; D014904:Western Australia
C569471:APOB protein, human; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D015415:Biomarkers; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D014280:Triglycerides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; C405603:Omacor; D000069438:Ezetimibe
Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Diet and nutrition; Genetics; Hypercholesterolaemia; Vascular dysfunction