(Hypertension. 1999;34:253-260.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.
Scientific Contributions |
Docosahexaenoic Acid but Not Eicosapentaenoic Acid Lowers Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Humans
From the Department of Medicine, University of Western Australia, and the West Australian Heart Research Institute, Perth, Australia.
Abstract—Animal studies
suggest that the 2 major 
3 fatty acids found in fish,
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA), may have differential effects on blood pressure (BP) and
heart rate (HR). The aim of this study was to determine whether there
were significant differences in the effects of purified EPA or DHA on
ambulatory BP and HR in humans. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial of parallel design, 59 overweight, mildly
hyperlipidemic men were randomized to 4 g/d of purified
EPA, DHA, or olive oil (placebo) capsules and continued their usual
diets for 6 weeks. Fifty-six subjects completed the study. Only DHA
reduced 24-hour and daytime (awake) ambulatory BP
(P<0.05). Relative to the placebo group, 24-hour BP
fell 5.8/3.3 (systolic/diastolic) mm Hg and
daytime BP fell 3.5/2.0 mm Hg with DHA. DHA also significantly
reduced 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime (asleep) ambulatory HRs
(P=0.001). Relative to the placebo group, DHA reduced
24-hour HR by 3.5±0.8 bpm, daytime HR by 3.7±1.2 bpm, and nighttime
HR by 2.8±1.2. EPA had no significant effect on ambulatory BP or HR.
Supplementation with EPA increased plasma phospholipid EPA from
1.66±0.07% to 9.83±0.06% (P<0.0001) but did not
change DHA levels. Purified DHA capsules increased plasma phospholipid
DHA levels from 4.00±0.27% to 10.93±0.62%
(P<0.0001) and led to a small, nonsignificant increase
in EPA (1.52±0.12% to 2.26±0.16%). Purified DHA but not EPA reduced
ambulatory BP and HR in mildly hyperlipidemic men. The
results of this study suggest that DHA is the principal 3 fatty acid
in fish and fish oils that is responsible for their BP- and HR-lowering
effects in humans. These results have important implications for human
nutrition and the food industry.
Key Words: eicosapentaenoic acid • docosahexaenoic acid • fatty acids • blood pressure • heart rate
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