Omega-3 fatty acids can lower blood pressure

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Omega-3 fatty acids can lower blood pressure

Fatty acids have small, but important effect on hypertension, study

finds

Reuters

Updated: 8:14 a.m. PT June 5, 2007

DALLAS - A diet with liberal servings of fish, nuts and seeds rich in

nutrients called omega-3 fatty acids can help lower a person's blood

pressure, according to a study.

" A large percentage of people between ages 20 and 60 have a rise in

blood pressure, and by middle age many have high blood pressure, "

said Dr. Stamler, professor emeritus of preventive medicine

at Northwestern University in Chicago, who worked on the study.

" We're looking at dietary factors that may help prevent that rise,

and omega-3 fatty acids are a small, but important piece of the

action, " Stamler said.

The study looked at diet and its relation to blood pressure in 4,680

men and women, ages 40 to 59, who lived in Japan, China, Britain and

the United States.

They all provided in-depth details about their diets and alcohol

consumption, gave urine samples and had their blood pressure measured

twice at each of four study visits.

Researchers then adjusted for 17 variables known to influence blood

pressure such as age, gender, weight, salt intake and exercise.

The people who ate diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids had slightly

lower blood pressure, on average, than people who ate diets with less

of the nutrient, the researchers reported in the American Heart

Association Journal Circulation.

" With blood pressure, every millimeter counts. The effect of each

nutrient is apparently small but independent, so together they can

add up to a substantial impact on blood pressure, " said Dr. Hirotsugu

Ueshima of Shiga University of Medical Science in Otsu, Japan.

" If you can reduce blood pressure a few millimeters from eating less

salt, losing a few pounds, avoiding heavy drinking, eating more

vegetables, whole grains and fruits (for their fiber, minerals,

vegetable protein and other nutrients) and getting more omega-3 fatty

acids, then you've made a big difference, " Ueshima said in a

statement.

When it comes to omega-3 fatty acids, not all fish or nuts are equal.

Fatty fish such as trout, salmon and mackerel are rich in this

crucial group of nutrients.

Walnuts, flaxseed and canola oil are also good sources of omega-3

fatty acids and people who got their omega-3s from these sources had

just as much benefit as those who get them by eating fish, the study

found.

Omega-3 fatty acid intake has also been linked to better brain

development and a lower overall risk of cancer and heart disease.