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.
Highlights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide (World Health Organization, 2011)
Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexanoic acid content of erythrocytes was similar in young and older subjects before supplementation (Pre) and increased with supplementation (Post; P < 0.05 Prior to obtaining baseline measurements (Pre) compared to Post) in both young and older subject groups
N-3 supplementation decreased carotid-femoral PWV in older adults (988 Æ 65 cm/sec Pre and 895 Æ 65 cm/sec Post; P < 0.05 Pre compared to Post) (Fig. 1); levels after n-3 supplementation were still greater than in the young
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide (World Health Organization, 2011). The incidence of CVD increases dramatically with advancing age, such that more than half of all individuals with CVD are over the age of 60 (Go et al 2014). It is not surprising that aging has emerged as a prominent risk factor for CVD (Fleg et al 1990; Wolf and Lewis 1993; Burt et al 1995). Aging may be the primary risk factor for CVD Numerous changes in cardiovascular system structure and function likely contribute to the increased prevalence of CVD with advancing age (Lakatta 1993, 2002, 2003; Lakatta and Levy 2003a,b). The notion that ‘arterial aging’ contributes significantly to CVD development with age is an important emerging concept
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