Against high blood pressure with omega-3 fatty acids: Researchers find the optimal amount to lower blood pressure
Created: 06/13/2022, 14:03
By: Juliane Gutmann
High blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for heart attack and stroke.
Lifestyle has a huge impact on blood pressure: omega-3 fatty acids have a positive effect.
About 20 to 30 million Germans have high blood pressure.
Arterial hypertension, as it is called in medical terms, affects almost every third person in Germany, according to the Techniker Krankenkasse.
Since elevated blood pressure values often do not manifest themselves in the form of symptoms, many people are not aware of their condition.
However, this can have dangerous consequences, such as a heart attack or a stroke.
Simple measures such as a change in diet and more exercise often help to lower blood pressure values.
Certain nutrients also have an antihypertensive effect.
These include magnesium and vitamin D. Omega-3 fatty acids also have a positive effect on levels, as a Canadian-Chinese research team discovered.
High blood pressure survey
Eating against high blood pressure: Omega-3 fatty acids are effective
In their study, which was published on the specialist portal JAHA, the scientists working with Xin Zhang from the
Macau University of Science and Technology in China, how the intake of omega-3 fatty acids affected the blood pressure values of the study participants.
According to the medical journal, the analysis included a total of almost 5,000 participants aged 22-86.
The intake of omega-3 fatty acids took place on average for ten weeks through food or in the form of dietary supplements
.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, among other things.
Many also take supplements.
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The result: Those who consumed the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) at a dosage of two to three grams per day were able to lower their blood pressure levels.
Compared to study participants who did not specifically consume omega-3 fatty acids, the values were on average 2 mmHg lower, the medical journal informs.
The effect was best in those study participants who were high blood pressure patients:
Here, taking three grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day resulted in a systolic blood pressure drop of 4.5 mmHg.
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“This dose-response meta-analysis shows
that the optimal combined intake of omega-3 fatty acids for lowering blood pressure is probably between 2 and 3 g/day
.
The intake of omega-3 fatty acids in amounts above the recommended 3 g/day may be associated with additional benefits in lowering blood pressure in groups at high risk of cardiovascular disease .
(jg)
More information on the study
"Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Intake and Blood Pressure: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials"
Release Date
: June 1, 2022
Study
period: Meta-analysis of 71 clinical studies published between 1987 and 2020
Published
in JAHA (Journal of the American Heart Association)
Scope
: 5,000 participants aged 22-86 years
Study authors
: Canadian-Chinese research team led by Dr.
Xin Zhang from the School of Pharmacy at Macau University of Science and Technology (China)
