Omega-3 fatty acid consumption is inversely associated with incidence of hypertension.

Abstract

Abstract.  Xun P, Hou N, Daviglus M, Liu K, Morris JS, Shikany JM, Sidney S, Jacobs DR, He K (Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health and School of Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Research Reactor Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO; Division of Preventive Medicine, School of medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL; Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Oakland, CA; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; and Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway). Fish oil, selenium and mercury in relation to incidence of hypertension:a 20-year follow-up study. J Intern Med 2011; doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2010.02338.x. Objectives.  Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCω3PUFAs), selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) are three important components in fish. The cardioprotective effect of LCω3PUFA intake has been recognized; however, the hypothesis that this benefit may be greatest with high Se and low Hg levels has not been investigated. Design.  A cohort of 4508 American adults aged 18-30, without hypertension at baseline in 1985, were enrolled. Six follow-ups were conducted at examinations in 1987, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2000 and 2005. Diet was assessed by a validated interviewer-administered quantitative food frequency questionnaire at exams in 1985, 1992 and 2005. Incident hypertension was defined as first occurrence at any follow-up examination of systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140 mmHg, diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg or taking antihypertensive medication. Toenail clippings were collected in 1987, and Se and Hg levels were quantified by instrumental neutron-activation analysis. Result.  Participants in the highest LCω3PUFA intake quartile had a significantly lower incidence of hypertension (hazard ratio: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.53-0.79; P(trend)