Abstract:
To investigate the effects of daily supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on coronary heart disease risks in 38
middle-agedmen with hypertension and/or hypercholesterolemia in Scotland, a five-week double-blind placebo-controlled dietary
supplementation with either 2 g of DHA or active placebo (1 g of olive oil) was conducted. Percent composition of DHA in plasma
phospholipids increased significantly in DHA group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate decreased significantly in
DHA group, but not in placebo group. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased significantly, and total cholesterol
(TC)/HDL-C and non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratios decreased significantly in both groups. There was no change in TC and non-HDLC.
We conclude that 2 g/day of DHA supplementation reduced coronary heart disease risk factor level improving blood pressure,
heart rate, and lipid profiles in hypertensive, hypercholesterolemic Scottish men who do not eat fish on a regular basis.
