(28-09-11) DHA-rich fish oil reverses the detrimental effects of saturated fatty acids on postprandial vascular reactivity1,2,3

1. Katie J Newens,
2. Abby K Thompson,
3. Kim G Jackson,
4. John Wright, and
5. Christine M Williams
+ Author Affiliations
1. 1From the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom.
+ Author Notes
↵2 Supported by the Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BB/E0221816/1), Unilever Discover, and Foundation for Research Science and Technology (New Zealand). The palm stearin and fish-oil concentrate were kindly donated by Aarhuskarlshman Ltd, UK, and Croda Healthcare, UK, respectively.
↵3 Address correspondence to KJ Newens, Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AP, United Kingdom. E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract
Background: Experimental elevation of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) impairs endothelial function, but the effect of NEFA composition is unknown.
Objective: The objective was to test the effect of acute elevation of NEFAs enriched with either saturated fatty acids (SFAs) or SFAs with long-chain (LC) n−3 (omega-3) PUFAs on vascular function measured via flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), laser Doppler iontophoresis (LDI), and digital volume pulse (DVP).
Design: In 59 subjects (30 men and 29 women), repeated oral fat feeding of either palm stearin (SFA) or palm stearin with DHA-rich fish oil (SFA + LC n−3 PUFA) was performed on 2 separate occasions with continuous heparin infusion to elevate NEFAs for a duration of 60 to 240 min. Vascular function was measured at baseline and at the end of NEFA elevation; venous blood was collected for measurement of lipids and circulating markers of endothelial function.
Results: NEFA elevation during consumption of the SFA-rich drinks was associated with a marked impairment of FMD, whereas consumption of SFAs + LC n−3 PUFAs improved FMD response, with a mean (??SEM) difference of 2.06 ?? 0.29% (P < 0.001). Positive correlations were found with percentage weight of LC n−3 PUFAs in circulating NEFAs and change in FMD response [Spearman's rho (rs) = 0.460, P < 0.001]. LDI measures increased during both treatments (P ?? 0.026), and there was no change in DVP indexes.
Conclusions: The composition of NEFAs can acutely affect FMD. The beneficial effect of LC n−3 PUFAs on postprandial vascular function warrants further investigation but may be mediated by nitric oxide?Cindependent mechanisms. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01351324.

Source: Am J Clin Nutr September 2011 vol. 94 no. 3 742-748

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