Recent evidence of the role of omega-3 polynsatured fatty acids on blood pressure control and hypertension related complications.

Despite the development of more efficacious and safe pharmacological treatments, cardiovascular diseases are always the leading cause of death and invalidity in developed countries and in most developing countries. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from fish and fish oils appear to protect against coronary heart disease. Recent evidence suggests that a part of their protective effect is mediated by a relatively small but significant decrease in blood pressure level. In fact, omega-3 PLIFAs exhibit wide-ranging biological actions that include regulating both vasomotor tone and renal sodium excretion, partly competing with omega-6 PUFAs for common metabolic enzymes and thereby decreasing the production of vasocostrincting rather than vasodilating and anti-inflammatory elcosanoids. The final result is improved vasodilation and arterial compliance of both small and large arteries. Preliminary clinical trials involving dysilpidemic patients, diabetics and elderly subjects, in addition to normotensive and hypertensive subjects, confirm this working hypothesis.