Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on endothelial function, arterial wall properties, inflammatory and fibrinolytic status in smokers: A cross over study

• Published in: International journal of cardiology 2013-06, Vol.166 (2), p.340-346
• Main Authors: Siasos, Gerasimos, Tousoulis, Dimitris, Oikonomou, Evangelos, Zaromitidou, Marina, Verveniotis, Aleksis, Plastiras, Aris, Kioufis, Stamatios, Maniatis, Konstantinos, Miliou, Antigoni, Siasou, Zoi, Stefanadis, Christodoulos, Papavassiliou, Athanasios G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adult; Arteries - drug effects; Arteries - physiology; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Flow Velocity - drug effects; Blood Flow Velocity - physiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Endothelium; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - physiology; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Female; Fibrinolysis; Fibrinolysis - drug effects; Fibrinolysis - physiology; Heart; Humans; Inflammation; Male; Medical sciences; Omega-3 fatty acid; Smoking - drug therapy; Smoking - physiopathology; Tobacco, tobacco smoking; Toxicology; Treatment Outcome; Vascular function; Vasodilation - drug effects; Vasodilation - physiology
• ISSN: 0167-5273; 1874-1754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2011.10.081

Abstract Background Smoking is associated with endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness. Supplementation of omega-3 PUFAs is associated with better prognosis. Aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) supplementation on smoking-induced impairment of arterial function. Methods We studied the effect of a 12 weeks oral treatment with 2gr/day of omega-3 PUFAs in 20 healthy smokers on three occasions (day0:baseline, day28 and day84). The study was carried out on two separate arms (omega-3 fatty acids and placebo), according to a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over design. Measurements were carried out before (pSm), immediately and 20 min after cigarette smoking. Endothelial function was evaluated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured as an index of aortic stiffness and augmentation index (AIx) as a measure of arterial wave reflections. Circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were measured. Results Compared with placebo, omega-3 PUFAs treatment resulted in a significant improvement in pSm values of FMD (p < 0.05), AIx (p < 0.001) and PWV (p < 0.01). Although, acute cigarette smoking decreased FMD and caused an increase in AIx and PWV, omega-3 PUFAs treatment blunted the acute smoking-induced impairment of FMD (p < 0.001), AIx (p < 0.05) and PWV (p < 0.05) and significantly decreased levels of TNFα (p < 0.05) and IL-6 (p = 0.01) and increased levels of PAI-1 (p = 0.05). Conclusions Omega-3 PUFAs improved endothelial function and the elastic properties of the arterial tree in healthy smokers, with a parallel anti-inflammatory effect.