Less stiff arteries thanks to fish oil supplements

A diet rich in Omega-3 can improve artery health by reducing their stiffness. This was demonstrated by researchers at the University of Reading (UK) in a study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition. The results obtained during the research show that a fatty meal supplemented with 4.7 grams of Omega-3 EPA and DHA reduces vascular stiffness, a risk factor for cardiovascular system health.

Arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk

According to the authors, this discovery has important implications in the use of these fatty acids to reduce cardiovascular risk. Several studies have linked arterial stiffness to atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing of the space inside blood vessels. Atherosclerosis is a major cardiovascular risk factor and arterial stiffness itself has been associated with poorer cardiovascular health. This parameter indicates a lower arterial distensibility and is linked to structural changes and epithelial alterations of larger vessels such as the aorta, carotids, and renal arteries. All these changes can have significant consequences on the tissues of the heart, brain, and kidneys.

Details of the study

Researchers at Reading wanted to evaluate the immediate effects of dietary Omega-3 intake on arterial stiffness. To do this, they asked the 25 study participants, 12 men and 13 women, to consume on two different occasions a control meal and a meal enriched with these fatty acids. Arterial stiffness was measured at the start of the study and at 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 minutes after meal consumption, when two different parameters were measured: the augmentation index and the stiffness index. At the same time, blood samples were taken to assess lipid, sugar, and insulin concentrations. It emerged that the meal rich in Omega-3 reduces both the augmentation index and the stiffness index compared to the control. The researchers also observed a significant decrease in the concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids in the blood. This is probably caused by an increased production of nitric oxide, a vasodilator molecule whose levels can be raised by these fatty acids. These effects, the researchers explain, are greater in men than in women.

Omega-3 and heart health

Since the 1970s, numerous studies have shown that Omega-3s are important for heart health and for reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. The benefits of consuming these nutrients include improved blood lipid levels, reduced risk of thrombosis, better blood pressure and heart rate values, and a more efficient vascular system. However, this British research is the first to evaluate the effect of EPA and DHA on arterial stiffness in both men and women. According to the authors, since every individual spends most of their day in a so-called “post-meal” state, the reduction in arterial stiffness observed in this research could have long-term beneficial effects on vessel health and cardiovascular risk.    

Source 

1. Chong MF, Lockyer S, Saunders CJ, Lovegrove JA, “Long chain n-3 PUFA-rich meal reduced postprandial measures of arterial stiffness”, Clin Nutr. 2010 Oct;29(5):678-81. Epub 2010 Mar