Fish oil, but not flaxseed oil, decreases inflammation and prevents pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction.

Abstract

AIMS:

Clinical studies suggest that intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA) may lower the incidence of heart failure. Dietary supplementation with omega-3 PUFA exerts metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects that could prevent left ventricle (LV) pathology; however, it is unclear whether these effects occur at clinically relevant doses and whether there are differences between omega-3 PUFA from fish [eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] and vegetable sources [alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)].

METHODS AND RESULTS:

We assessed the development of LV remodelling and pathology in rats subjected to aortic banding treated with omega-3 PUFA over a dose range that spanned the intake of humans taking omega-3 PUFA supplements. Rats were fed a standard food or diets supplemented with EPA+DHA or ALA at 0.7, 2.3, or 7% of energy intake. Without supplementation, aortic banding increased LV mass and end-systolic and -diastolic volumes. ALA supplementation had little effect on LV remodelling and dysfunction. In contrast, EPA+DHA dose-dependently increased EPA and DHA, decreased arachidonic acid in cardiac membrane phospholipids, and prevented the increase in LV end-diastolic and -systolic volumes. EPA+DHA resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the anti-inflammatory adipokine adiponectin, and there was a strong correlation between the prevention of LV chamber enlargement and plasma levels of adiponectin (r = -0.78). Supplementation with EPA+DHA had anti-aggregatory and anti-inflammatory effects as evidenced by decreases in urinary thromboxane B(2) and serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha.

CONCLUSION:

Dietary supplementation with omega-3 PUFA derived from fish, but not from vegetable sources, increased plasma adiponectin, suppressed inflammation, and prevented cardiac remodelling and dysfunction under pressure overload conditions.

• Authors: Monika K Duda, Karen M O'Shea, Anselm Tintinu, Wenhong Xu, Ramzi J Khairallah, Brian R Barrows, David J Chess, Agnes M Azimzadeh, William S Harris, Victor G Sharov, Hani N Sabbah, William C Stanley
• Journal: Cardiovascular research (Cardiovasc Res) Vol. 81 Issue 2 Pg. 319-27 (Feb 01 2009) ISSN: 1755-3245 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19015135 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Adiponectin
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3
• Phospholipids
• RNA, Messenger
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Thromboxane B2
• Linseed Oil
• Atrial Natriuretic Factor
• Adenylate Kinase
• Myosin Heavy Chains

Topics

• Adenylate Kinase (metabolism)
• Adiponectin (blood)
• Animals
• Atrial Natriuretic Factor (genetics)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3 (administration & dosage)
• Hypertension (complications)
• Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular (prevention & control)
• Inflammation (prevention & control)
• Linseed Oil (administration & dosage)
• Male
• Myocardial Contraction (drug effects)
• Myosin Heavy Chains (genetics)
• Phospholipids (analysis)
• RNA, Messenger (analysis)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Thromboxane B2 (urine)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (blood)
• Ventricular Function, Left (drug effects)
• Ventricular Remodeling (drug effects)