Monday May 26, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may help prevent arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women, a recent study in the Jan 2014 issue of Journal of cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics suggests.  

The study of omega-3 fatty acids in rats led by Andrea Grillo at Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, U.C.O. Medicina Clinica in Trieste, Italy and colleagues shows that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation completely prevented arterial stiffness in ovariectomized rats.

In rats with ovaries surgically removed or rats receiving ovariectomy, blood pressure, carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity, and elastic modulus were increased significantly, compared with rats without having their ovaries removed.

In comparison, after ovariectomy, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation completely prevented any increase in arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and increased body weight and aortic thickness, which are desired.

Menopause is associated with increased arterial stiffness and increases risk of cardiovascular disease.

The dose of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids used in the study was 0.8 grams per kg per day. (David Liu PHD)