Fish Oil (2012) & Hypertension

research

Learn more about hypertension.

2012

Studies of diet have indicated that a daily meal of fish can lower blood pressure; this study looks at salmon, a fatty fish, 3 times a week is helpful.

324 subjects, 20-40 years old, received one of 4 energy-restricted diets: salmon (with 2.1g omega-3 fatty acids), cod (with .3g omega-3 fatty acids), fish oil capsules (1.3g omega-3 fatty acids), or sunflower seeds (the control). Body weight, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, and DHA was measured at the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks.

After evaluating the results, the researchers concluded that salmon consumption 3 times a week can lower diastolic blood pressure similar to fish oil, and more than lean fish over 8 weeks in young overweight adults.

Researchers: A. Ramel, J. Martinez, et al
Published: Moderate consumption of fatty fish reduces diastolic blood pressure in overweight and obese European young adults during energy restriction, Nutrition, February, 2010


Other researchers wanted to evaluate the veracity of the belief that fish oil is helpful in reducing blood pressure.

They evaluated 17 studies involving more than 1500 hypertensive and normal blood pressure subjects. They found, in 8 studies, a statistically significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients. They found, in 9 studies, a non-significant reduction in normal blood pressure subjects.

Their conclusion was that in high blood pressure patients there is a small but statistically significant benefit, but that it should not be recommended as an alternative to blood pressure lowering medication.

Researchers: F. Campbell, H. Dickinson, et al
Published: A systematic review of fish-oil supplements for the prevention and treatment of hypertension, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, January, 2012