Fish Oil Supports Optimal Blood Pressure

by CP Staff

In a new study, researchers evaluated blood pressure and blood lipid levels in adolescent boys, and investigated the effect of fish oil supplementation on these markers of cardiovascular health. The journal American Family Physician reports that the prevalence and rate of elevated blood pressure in children and adolescents appear to be increasing. They believe that this is due, in part, to the increasing prevalence of obesity as well as the early development of atherosclerosis, or plaque build-up in the arteries.

In this new study, 78 slightly overweight adolescent boys between 13 and 15 years of age with normal blood pressure and blood lipids were supplemented with either fish oil, providing 1.5 grams of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids per day, or vegetable oil as the control group. After 16 weeks of supplementation, the boys were evaluated for blood pressure; plasma lipid levels including triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL, known as the “good” cholesterol) and non-HDL cholesterol; red blood cell (RBC) content of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); and insulin sensitivity.

The results showed that fish oil supplementation increased RBC levels of EPA and DHA compared to the control group. Additionally, the group receiving fish oil supplementation had more normal systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements compared to the group supplemented with vegetable oil. Also, the group supplemented with fish oil had increased levels of plasma HDL and non-HDL cholesterol compared to the control group. The study also showed that the maintenance of normal blood pressure correlated with RBC levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Insulin sensitivity and triacylglycerol levels were not affected.

The researchers concluded that fish oil supplementation maintained healthy blood pressure in slightly overweight adolescent boys with normal blood pressure and lipid levels.

Reference:

Pedersen MH, Mølgaard C, Hellgren LI, Lauritzen L. Effects of fish oil supplementation on markers of the metabolic syndrome. J Pediatr. 2010 Sep;157(3):395-400.