Research published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2008; 62(12): 1426–1431) examined the effects of fish oil supplementation on blood vessel elasticity in 52 overweight Chinese adults with high blood pressure. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or 3,000 mg of fish oil per day. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to influence endothelial function, inflammation, and smooth muscle tone, all of which affect arterial stiffness.
After eight weeks, measures of large artery elasticity improved in the group receiving fish oil, while no improvement was seen in the placebo group. Reduced arterial elasticity is associated with higher cardiovascular risk and is commonly seen in hypertension, suggesting that omega-3 fatty acids may help support vascular health in this population.
