title: The effect of marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on cardiac autonomic and hemodynamic function in patients with psoriatic arthritis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on cardiac autonomic function and vascular function in patients with psoriatic arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, where 145 patients with psoriatic arthritis were supplemented with 3 g of n-3 PUFA or olive oil (control) daily for 24 weeks. Blood pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), central blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and fatty acid composition of granulocytes, were determined at baseline and after supplementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline we found a significant difference in the mean of all normal RR intervals (inverse of heart rate, vary from beat to beat) when comparing subjects with the highest vs the lowest fish intake (p = 0.03). After supplementation for 24 weeks there was a trend towards an increase in RR (p = 0.13) and decrease in heart rate (p = 0.12) comparing the n-3 PUFA group with the control group. However, per-protocol analysis showed significantly increased RR (p = 0.01) and lowered heart rate (p = 0.01) in the n-3 PUFA supplemented patients compared with controls. Blood pressure, PWV and Central blood pressure did not change after supplementation with n-3 PUFA. Adjustment for disease activity and conventional cardiovascular risk factors did not change the results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Marine n-3 PUFA increased RR intervals in patients with psoriatic arthritis which may suggest a protective effect of n-3 PUFA against cardiovascular disease in this population.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01818804.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Reberbansgade 14, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark. sakr@rn.dk.
authors.forename: Salome
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5812-5234
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Erik Berg
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Reberbansgade 14, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schlemmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, North Denmark Regional Hospital, 9800, Hjørring, Denmark.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Reberbansgade 14, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lindgreen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Unit of Clinical Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Martin Berg
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Aalborg University Hospital, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jeppe Hagstrup
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069463:Olive Oil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D000069463:Olive Oil
keywords: Arterial stiffness; Cardiac autonomic function; Heart rate variability; Psoriatic arthritis; Pulse wave velocity; n-3 PUFA