n−3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid increase systemic arterial compliance in humans

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 76; no. 2; pp. 326 - 330
• Main Authors: Nestel, Paul, Shige, Hideki, Pomeroy, Sylvia, Cehun, Marja, Abbey, Mavis, Raederstorff, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Clinical Nutrition 01.08.2002; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: Acids; Adult; Aged; Analysis of Variance; Arachidonic Acids - administration & dosage; Arachidonic Acids - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; blood lipids; Blood vessels and receptors; Cardiovascular disease; Cholesterol - blood; docosahexaenoic acid; Docosahexaenoic Acids - administration & dosage; Docosahexaenoic Acids - therapeutic use; Double-Blind Method; eicosapentaenoic acid; Fatty acids; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hemodynamics - drug effects; Humans; Hyperlipidemias - drug therapy; Lipids; Male; Middle Aged; omega-3 fatty acids; Plasma; risk; risk factors; triacylglycerols; Vertebrates: cardiovascular system; very low density lipoprotein; Human; Lipids; Supplemented diet; Systemic; Docosahexaenoic acid; n-3 fatty acid; Compliance(volume pressure); Artery; Feeding; Vascular resistance; Blood vessel; Unsaturated fatty acid; Arterial pressure; Circulatory system; Hemodynamics; Macronutrient; Eicosapentaenoic acid
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/76.2.326

Background: n-3 Fatty acids influence vascular function, but the effect of individual fatty acids on systemic arterial compliance (SAC) has not been reported. SAC, which reflects arterial elasticity, is emerging as a new cardiovascular risk factor and appears to predict future cardiovascular events. Objective: We tested whether the n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) improve SAC in dyslipidemic subjects. Design: Thirty-eight dyslipidemic subjects were randomly assigned to receive 3 g EPA/d (n = 12), 3 g DHA/d (n = 12), or a placebo (n = 14) in a 7-wk parallel, double-blind trial. Arterial functions were measured at the beginning and end of the interventions. Plasma lipids and plasma fatty acids were also measured. Results: Consumption of the n−3 fatty acids significantly increased SAC, whereas consumption of the placebo did not (P = 0.043; repeated-measures analysis of variance across the 3 groups); the increase was 36% with EPA and 27% with DHA. The major components contributing to the increase in SAC (systolic and pulse pressures and total vascular resistance) tended to decrease but not significantly. Plasma total and VLDL triacylglycerol were significantly lower in the n-3 fatty acid groups (P = 0.026 and 0.006, respectively; repeated-measures analysis of variance) than in the placebo group. Conclusion: EPA and DHA increase SAC and tend to reduce pulse pressure and total vascular resistance, effects that may reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events.