OMEGA-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS AND HYPERTENSION: A REVIEW OF VASOACTIVE MECHANISMS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Nutritional Science
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Hypertension affects over 1.4 billion people globally, representing a major cardiovascular disease risk factor.
• Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are recognized for their vasoactive properties.
• These fatty acids are explored as non-pharmacological interventions for blood pressure management and cardiovascular risk reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the vasoactive properties of omega-3 PUFAs.
• To evaluate the application of these properties in managing hypertension.
• To assess the impact of omega-3 PUFAs on cardiovascular risk.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
• Literature search across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (2010-2025).
• Inclusion of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and meta-analyses examining EPA/DHA effects on blood pressure, endothelial function, inflammation, lipid metabolism, and cardiovascular outcomes; narrative synthesis without quantitative pooling.

Main Results:

• Omega-3 PUFA supplementation demonstrated modest reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, particularly in hypertensive individuals or those at high cardiometabolic risk.
• Observed benefits are linked to enhanced endothelial nitric oxide bioavailability, reduced vascular inflammation, and improved lipid profiles.
• Study outcome variability is attributed to differences in dosage, EPA:DHA ratios, intervention duration, and baseline population characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Omega-3 PUFAs show promise as adjuncts for hypertension control and cardiovascular disease prevention through multiple vasoactive mechanisms.
• Heterogeneity among studies precludes definitive conclusions on optimal dosing strategies.
• Large-scale, standardized, hypertension-focused randomized controlled trials are warranted to refine clinical practice guidelines.