title: Marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids affect the blood pressure control in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension - a 1-year follow-up study.
abstract: Marine long-chained n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are recognized for their cardio-protective effects, including potential lowering of blood pressure. We hypothesized that higher habitual fish intake and n-3 PUFA plasma levels were associated with lower blood pressure and being less likely to receive antihypertensive medication after one-year follow-up. In this prospective study of 115 patients, we assessed 24 h ambulatory and central blood pressure, plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition using gas chromatography and participants completed a food frequency questionnaire, including fish-eating habits. All measurements were repeated at one-year follow-up. At baseline, patients consuming fish ≥2 times per month for dinner had significantly higher plasma levels of total marine n-3 PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid as well as significantly lower central blood pressure and a trend towards lower peripheral blood pressure. At follow-up, 21 patients (18%) without antihypertensive medication had significantly higher plasma levels of n-3 PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid as well as a higher, but still acceptable 24 h ambulatory blood pressure (137/85 mmHg) compared to subjects receiving antihypertensive medication. The untreated group was more prone to take fish oil capsules and increased their plasma levels of n-3 PUFA compared to baseline. In patients with newly diagnosed, untreated hypertension, regular fish consumption was accompanied by lower blood pressure. After one year, patients without antihypertensive medication were characterized by a significant increase and higher plasma levels of n-3 PUFA. This supports a blood pressure-lowering effect and suggests an increase in marine n-3 PUFA intake as part of non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Aalborg University Hospital, Moelleparkvej 4, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Carina N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Bagge
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Aalborg University Hospital, Moelleparkvej 4, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Strandhave
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Aalborg University Hospital, Moelleparkvej 4, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Charlotte M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Skov
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Akershus University Hospital, Kirkeveien, 166, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: My
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Hobrovej, 18-22, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Erik B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Aalborg University Hospital, Moelleparkvej 4, Aalborg, Denmark. Electronic address: jeppe.hagstrup.christensen@rn.dk.
authors.forename: Jeppe H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004032:Diet; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D005399:Fishes; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D010743:Phospholipids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: Blood pressure; Follow-up; Hypertension; n-3 PUFA; n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids