Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on central arterial stiffness and arterial wave reflections in young and older healthy adults

Abstract

Increased central arterial stiffness and enhanced arterial wave reflections may contribute to increased risk of cardiovascular disease development with advancing age. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3) ingestion may reduce cardiovascular risk via favorable effects exerted on arterial structure and function. We determined the effects of n-3 supplementation (4 g/day for 12 weeks) on important measures of central arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity; PWV) and arterial wave reflection (central augmentation index) in young (n = 12; 25 ± 1-year-old, mean ± SE) and older (n = 12; 66 ± 2) healthy adults. We hypothesized that n-3 supplementation would decrease carotid-femoral PWV and central augmentation index in older adults. Our results indicate that carotid-femoral PWV and central augmentation index were greater in older (988 ± 65 cm/sec and 33 ± 2%) than in young adults (656 ± 16 cm/sec and 3 ± 4%: both P < 0.05 compared to older) before the intervention (Pre). N-3 supplementation decreased carotid-femoral PWV in older (Δ-9 ± 2% Precompared to Post; P < 0.05), but not young adults (Δ2 ± 3%). Central augmentation index was unchanged by n-3 supplementation in young (3 ± 4 vs. 0 ± 4% for Pre and Post, respectively) and older adults (33 ± 2 vs. 35 ± 3%). Arterial blood pressure at rest, although increased with age, was not altered by n-3 supplementation in young or older adults. Collectively, these data indicate that 12 weeks of daily n-3 supplementation decreases an important measure of central arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral PWV) in older, but not young healthy adults. The mechanism underlying decreased central arterial stiffness with n-3 supplementation is unknown, but appears to be independent of effects on arterial blood pressure or arterial wave reflections.

Omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation attenuates blood pressure increase at onset of isometric handgrip exercise in healthy young and older humans

“…However, as FO supplementation did not alter central arterial stiffness in young individuals in our recent study (Monahan et al. ), it is not clear whether FO‐related alterations in central arterial stiffness are responsible for mediating the attenuated MAP and DBP increases in response to isometric handgrip in this investigation.…”

“…), our recent finding that FO supplementation decreases central arterial stiffness in older but not young subjects (Monahan et al. ) led us to hypothesize that FO supplementation would attenuate the MAP increase at the onset of isometric handgrip in older subjects by decreasing their central arterial stiffness. However, as FO supplementation did not alter central arterial stiffness in young individuals in our recent study (Monahan et al.…”

“…We have recently shown that FO supplementation decreases central arterial stiffness in older but not young healthy subjects (Monahan et al. ). An age‐related increase in arterial stiffness is linked with elevated cardiovascular risk (Seals ), so this finding suggests one of the possible mechanisms involved in the cardioprotective effect of FO consumption.…”

“…), and FO supplementation can reduce central arterial stiffness in older people (Monahan et al. ), we hypothesized that older subjects would exhibit an attenuated MAP increase at the onset of isometric handgrip exercise following 12 weeks of FO supplementation. Findings from this investigation would provide new clinically relevant insight into the effect of omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption on age‐related cardiovascular responses to acute physiological stress.…”

The effect of marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on cardiac autonomic and hemodynamic function in patients with psoriatic arthritis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

“…Furthermore, studies and a meta-analysis of randomized and controlled human clinical trials examining the effect of n-3 PUFA on arterial stiffness has shown a reduction in arterial stiffness after treatment with less than 4 g/d of n-3 PUFA in populations with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome and obesity [57, 58]. …”