The effect of acute fish-oil supplementation on endothelial function and arterial stiffness following a high-fat meal

Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2010 Jun;35(3):294-302. doi: 10.1139/H10-020.

Abstract

This study examined whether a commercially available fish-oil supplement offers protection from the acute effects of a high-fat meal (HFM) on endothelial function and arterial stiffness. An HFM causes acute impairments in endothelial function, whereas the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have a variety of cardioprotective effects. However, little is known about the efficacy of moderate fish-oil supplementation on the endothelial dysfunction induced by an HFM. Endothelial function (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD)), forearm blood flow (FBF), total hyperemia, central and peripheral blood pressure, and central artery stiffness were assessed in 20 healthy men (n = 10) and women (n = 10) at rest and 4 h after an HFM supplemented with either placebo or approximately 1 g EPA and DHA. Brachial artery FMD normalized for shear rate was significantly impaired (p = 0.033) following the HFM with placebo but remained unchanged compared with baseline following the HFM with the fish-oil supplement (p = 0.039; condition x time interaction). Resting FBF (p = 0.020) and total hyperemia (p = 0.014) were elevated following the HFM. All other vascular and hemodynamic measurements were unchanged in both trials. Commercially available fish-oil supplements taken with an HFM appear to preserve endothelial function following an HFM.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aorta / drug effects
  • Aorta / physiopathology
  • Arteries / diagnostic imaging
  • Arteries / drug effects*
  • Arteries / physiopathology
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Brachial Artery / drug effects
  • Brachial Artery / physiopathology
  • Carotid Arteries / drug effects
  • Carotid Arteries / physiopathology
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Dietary Fats / adverse effects*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Combinations
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / administration & dosage*
  • Elasticity
  • Endothelium, Vascular / diagnostic imaging
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Forearm / blood supply*
  • Humans
  • Hyperemia / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Regional Blood Flow / drug effects
  • Time Factors
  • Ultrasonography
  • Vasodilation / drug effects*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Dietary Fats
  • Drug Combinations
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid