In post-menopausal women, as well as higher total cholesterol, the alterations in plasma fatty acids may constitute an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
In the present study, we evaluate the changes that fish oil intake has (as a treatment's coadjutant) over women's blood pressure (BP) levels and the possible changes in their sexual hormones. For this reason, two groups were constituted: one group took fish oil during 6 months (SG), and the other group did not (CG). Anthropometric, dietetic, blood pressure and sex hormones controls, including β-estradiol, total testosterone, free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), were carried out by RIA techniques at the third and sixth month of starting or not the intake of fish oil, and 3 months after the end of the supplementation.Our study shows improvements in blood pressure only in the group that effectuated the supplementation. In these women, an increase of the total weight was noticed, accompanied by a decrease in the skinfolds. In regard to the hormones, it calls our attention the high DHEA levels in both groups. But the fish oil intake generated a very significant fall in it. Total testosterone also decreased significantly its concentrations.Therefore, we can conclude that the intake of low doses of fish oil produces a decrease in BP, and that the decline in androgenic hormones (DHEA and total testosterone) can play an important role in this decrease.
Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of taking low doses of omega-3 (1,5 g/day) in hypertensive women.
Method:Longitudinal clinical trial Health Center of San Fernando de Badajoz. Primary care. 55 postmenopausal hypertensive women. For the study, participants were divided into two groups, group supplementation (GS) (n=28) and one control group (CG) (n=27). Supplementation with n-3 PUFA to the experimental group for 6 months (1.5 g/day). The control group was given nothing. The variables of the study have been blood pressure, n-3 fatty acid supplementation and it was tried to control nutritional intake.
Results:In SG, systolic blood pressure decreased significantly at the third (p<0.001) and sixth (p<0.001) month after starting the study, and three months (p<0.01) since the end of supplementation. With regards to diastolic blood pressure levels in the same group, also produced a decrease that became significant (p<0.01) after six months of supplementation and maintained at three months of concluding the supplementation, even without acquire statistically signification. We have shown increases in the plasma percentages of fatty acids C20:5n3 and C22:6n3, after three months of initiating supplementation (p<0.05), after 6 months of it (p<0.001) and in three months of leaving supplementation (p<0.001). Arachidonic acid decreases throughout the supplementation period and this reached a statistically significant difference after 6 months within supplementation.
Conclusions:The intake of 1.5 g/day of fish oil as coadjuvant in the treatment of all kinds of arterial hypertension improves blood presure and other cardiovascular diseases.
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