Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Marine-Derived Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Systemic Hemodynamics at Rest and During Stress: a Dose–Response Study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Omega-3 fatty acids reduced heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) in some studies, but dose–response studies are rare, and little is known about underlying mechanisms.

Purpose

We examined effects of 0.85 g/day eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (low dose) and 3.4 g/day EPA + DHA (high dose) on HR and systemic hemodynamics during rest, speech, and foot cold pressor tasks.

Methods

This was a dose–response, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, crossover trial (8-week treatment, 6-week washout) in 26 adults.

Results

Throughout the testing sessions, HR was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. The high dose reduced BP and stroke volume and increased pre-ejection period. Reductions in BP were associated with increases in erythrocyte omega-3 fatty acids.

Conclusions

High-dose long-chain omega-3 fatty acids can reduce BP and HR, at rest and during stress. These findings suggest that at-risk populations may achieve benefits with increased omega-3 intake.

The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00504309).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The five response items were rated on 5-point Likert scale. Each response item was modeled using the mixed effects models applied to the other study outcomes and found to have universally nonsignificant effects for treatment, period, and treatment by period interaction.

References

  1. Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, et al. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure: The JNC 7 report. JAMA. 2003;289:2560-2572.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lang CC, Gupta S, Kalra P, et al. Elevated heart rate and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease: Clinical evidence and pathophysiological mechanisms. Atherosclerosis. 2010;212:1-8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Custodis F, Schirmer SH, Baumhakel M, Heusch G, Bohm M, Laufs U. Vascular pathophysiology in response to increased heart rate. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010;56:1973-1983.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Investigators G-P. Dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E after myocardial infarction: Results of the GISSI-Prevenzione trial. Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto miocardico. Lancet. 1999;354:447-455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Burr ML, Fehily AM, Gilbert JF, et al. Effects of changes in fat, fish, and fibre intakes on death and myocardial reinfarction: Diet and reinfarction trial (DART). Lancet. 1989;2:757-761.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Mozaffarian D, Geelen A, Brouwer IA, Geleijnse JM, Zock PL, Katan MB. Effect of fish oil on heart rate in humans: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Circulation. 2005;112:1945-1952.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Morris MC, Sacks F, Rosner B. Does fish oil lower blood pressure? A meta-analysis of controlled trials. Circulation. 1993;88:523-533.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Appel LJ, Miller ER 3rd. Seidler AJ, Whelton PK: Does supplementation of diet with 'fish oil' reduce blood pressure? A meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. Arch Intern Med. 1993;153:1429-1438.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Geleijnse JM, Giltay EJ, Grobbee DE, Donders AR, Kok FJ. Blood pressure response to fish oil supplementation: Metaregression analysis of randomized trials. J Hypertens. 2002;20:1493-1499.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bonaa KH, Bjerve KS, Straume B, Gram IT, Thelle D. Effect of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids on blood pressure in hypertension. A population-based intervention trial from the Tromso study. N Engl J Med. 1990;322:795-801.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Toft I, Bonaa KH, Ingebretsen OC, Nordoy A, Jenssen T. Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on glucose homeostasis and blood pressure in essential hypertension. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 1995;123:911-918.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Grundt H, Nilsen DW, Hetland O, et al. Improvement of serum lipids and blood pressure during intervention with n-3 fatty acids was not associated with changes in insulin levels in subjects with combined hyperlipidaemia. J Intern Med. 1995;237:249-259.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Vandongen R, Mori TA, Burke V, Beilin LJ, Morris J, Ritchie J. Effects on blood pressure of omega 3 fats in subjects at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Hypertension. 1993;22:371-379.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Hamazaki K, Itomura M, Huan M, et al. Effect of omega-3 fatty acid-containing phospholipids on blood catecholamine concentrations in healthy volunteers: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. Nutrition. 2005;21:705-710.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hamazaki T, Sawazaki S, Nagasawa T, Nagao Y, Kanagawa Y, Yazawa K. Administration of docosahexaenoic acid influences behavior and plasma catecholamine levels at times of psychological stress. Lipids. 1999;34:S33-S37.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Sawazaki S, Hamazaki T, Yazawa K, Kobayashi M. The effect of docosahexaenoic acid on plasma catecholamine concentrations and glucose tolerance during long-lasting psychological stress: A double-blind placebo-controlled study. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1999;45:655-665.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Delarue J, Matzinger O, Binnert C, Schneiter P, Chiolero R, Tappy L. Fish oil prevents the adrenal activation elicited by mental stress in healthy men. Diabetes Metab. 2003;29:289-295.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Christensen JH. n-3 fatty acids and the risk of sudden cardiac death. Emphasis on heart rate variability. Dan Med Bull. 2003;50:347-367.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Christensen JH, Schmidt EB. Autonomic nervous system, heart rate variability and n-3 fatty acids. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2007;8(Suppl 1):S19-S22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ginty AT, Conklin SM. Preliminary evidence that acute long-chain omega-3 supplementation reduces cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress: A randomized and placebo controlled trial. Biol Psychol. 2012;89:269-272.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. West SG, Krick AL, Klein LC, et al. Effects of diets high in walnuts and flax oil on hemodynamic responses to stress and vascular endothelial function. J Am Coll Nutr. 2010;29:595-603.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kris-Etherton PM, Harris WS, Appel LJ. Fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular disease. Circulation. 2002;106:2747-2757.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Skulas-Ray AC, Kris-Etherton PM, Harris WS, Vanden Heuvel JP, Wagner PR, West SG. Dose-response effects of omega-3 fatty acids on triglycerides, inflammation, and endothelial function in healthy persons with moderate hypertriglyceridemia. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;93:243-252.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Sherwood A, Allen MT, Fahrenberg J, Kelsey RM, Lovallo WR, van Doornen LJ. Methodological guidelines for impedance cardiography. Psychophysiology. 1990;27:1-23.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. West SG, Likos-Krick A, Brown P, Mariotti F. Oral L-arginine improves hemodynamic responses to stress and reduces plasma homocysteine in hypercholesterolemic men. J Nutr. 2005;135:212-217.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. McFetridge J, Sherwood A. Impedance cardiography for noninvasive measurement of cardiovascular hemodynamics. Nurs Res. 1999;48:109-113.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Sherwood A, Allen MT, Fahrenberg J, Kelsey RM, Lovallo WR, van Doornen LJP. Committee report: Methodological guidelines for impedance cardiography. Psychophysiology. 1990;27:1-23. http://www.sprweb.org/articles/Sherwood90.pdf.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. McFetridge J, Sherwood A. Impedance cardiography for noninvasive measurement of cardiovascular hemodynamics. Nurs Res. 1999;48:109-113.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Harris WS, Von Schacky C. The Omega-3 Index: A new risk factor for death from coronary heart disease? Prev Med. 2004;39:212-220.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Bagiella E, Sloan RP, Heitjan DF. Mixed-effects models in psychophysiology. Psychophysiology. 2000;37:13-20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Harris WS. The omega-3 index: From biomarker to risk marker to risk factor. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2009;11:411-417.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Mozaffarian D. Fish, n-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular haemodynamics. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2007;8(Suppl 1):S23-S26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Walser B, Stebbins CL. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation enhances stroke volume and cardiac output during dynamic exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008;104:455-461.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Monahan KD, Wilson TE, Ray CA. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation augments sympathetic nerve activity responses to physiological stressors in humans. Hypertension. 2004;44:732-738.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Mori TA, Bao DQ, Burke V, Puddey IB, Beilin LJ. Docosahexaenoic acid but not eicosapentaenoic acid lowers ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate in humans. Hypertension. 1999;34:253-260.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Grimsgaard S, Bonaa KH, Hansen JB, Myhre ES. Effects of highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on hemodynamics in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998;68:52-59.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Liu JC, Conklin SM, Manuck SB, Yao JK, Muldoon MF. Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Blood Pressure. Am J Hypertens. 2011;24:1121-1126.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. MacMahon S, Peto R, Cutler J, et al. Blood pressure, stroke, and coronary heart disease. Part 1, Prolonged differences in blood pressure: Prospective observational studies corrected for the regression dilution bias. Lancet. 1990;335:765-774.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Mori TA. Omega-3 fatty acids and hypertension in humans. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2006;33:842-846.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Bao DQ, Mori TA, Burke V, Puddey IB, Beilin LJ. Effects of dietary fish and weight reduction on ambulatory blood pressure in overweight hypertensives. Hypertension. 1998;32:710-717.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Cobiac L, Nestel PJ, Wing LM, Howe PR. A low-sodium diet supplemented with fish oil lowers blood pressure in the elderly. J Hypertens. 1992;10:87-92.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Singer P, Melzer S, Goschel M, Augustin S. Fish oil amplifies the effect of propranolol in mild essential hypertension. Hypertension. 1990;16:682-691.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Lungershausen YK, Abbey M, Nestel PJ, Howe PR. Reduction of blood pressure and plasma triglycerides by omega-3 fatty acids in treated hypertensives. J Hypertens. 1994;12:1041-1045.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Pischon T, Hankinson SE, Hotamisligil GS, Rifai N, Willett WC, Rimm EB. Habitual dietary intake of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in relation to inflammatory markers among US men and women. Circulation. 2003;108:155-160.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Katan MB, Deslypere JP, van Birgelen AP, Penders M, Zegwaard M. Kinetics of the incorporation of dietary fatty acids into serum cholesteryl esters, erythrocyte membranes, and adipose tissue: An 18-month controlled study. J Lipid Res. 1997;38:2012-2022.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a scholarship grant from the National Fisheries Institute. Study materials (capsules) and additional financial support was provided by Reliant Pharmaceuticals (now GlaxoSmithKline, GSK). Financial supporters had no role in the design and conduct of the study; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data; or in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. We are grateful to Danette L. Teeter for her analysis of the impedance cardiography results. Katherine A. Sauder provided valuable assistance with revision of the manuscript. We are also grateful to the nursing and clinician staff of the General Clinical Research Center of The Pennsylvania State University, which was supported by NIH Grant M01 RR 10732.

Conflict of Interest Statement

WSH is a scientific adviser to companies with interests in fatty acids including Omthera, Aker Biomarine, and GlaxoSmithKline, and has been a speaker for the latter. In addition, he is the owner of OmegaQuant Analytics, LLC (Sioux Falls, SD) and a Senior Scientist at Health Diagnostic Laboratory (Richmond, VA); both are companies that offer blood omega-3 fatty testing. The other authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Nutritional Sciences (ACS, PMKE, SGW) and Biobehavioral Health (SGW), Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Ann C. Skulas-Ray Ph.D., Penny M. Kris-Etherton Ph.D., R.D. & Sheila G. West Ph.D.

  2. Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA

    William S. Harris Ph.D.

  3. 315 Health and Human Development East, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Sheila G. West Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Ann C. Skulas-Ray Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Penny M. Kris-Etherton Ph.D., R.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. William S. Harris Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sheila G. West Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sheila G. West Ph.D..

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(DOCX 25 kb)

About this article

Cite this article

Skulas-Ray, A.C., Kris-Etherton, P.M., Harris, W.S. et al. Effects of Marine-Derived Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Systemic Hemodynamics at Rest and During Stress: a Dose–Response Study. ann. behav. med. 44, 301–308 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-012-9393-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-012-9393-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation