Exposure to ambient levels of air pollution increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Advanced age is among the factors associated with susceptibility to the adverse effects of air pollution. Dietary fatty acid supplementation has been shown to decrease cardiovascular risk through multiple mechanisms. This study evaluated the efficacy of supplementation with marine fish oil or olive oil in protecting against cardiovascular effects induced by controlled exposure of middle-aged healthy volunteers to concentrated ambient air pollution particles. Subjects (ages 50 to72 years), were randomly assigned to receive 3 g/d of fish oil (1.2 g eicosapentaenoic acid and 0.82 g docosahexaenoic acid), or olive oil (3g/d) for 28 d. Subjects were then exposed to concentrated ambient air pollution particles or filtered air for 2 hr on sequential days. Heart rate variability (HRV), plasma lipids, coagulation markers, and endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD) were assessed pre-, immediately post-, and 20 hr post-exposure.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
29
Subjects (ages 50 to 75 years), were randomly assigned to receive 3 g/d of fish oil (1.2 g eicosapentaenoic acid and 0.82 g docosahexaenoic acid) for 28 d.
Subjects (ages 50 to 75 years) were randomly assigned to receive 3 g/d of olive oil for 28 d.
EPA Human Studies Facility
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Heart rate variability changes
Time frame: pre-, immediately post-, and 20 hr post-air pollution exposure
endothelial function changes measured by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery
Time frame: pre-, immediately post-, and 20 hr post-air pollution exposure
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