Dose-dependent effects of omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids on systolic left ventricular function, endothelial function, and markers of inflammation in chronic heart failure of nonischemic origin: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 3-arm study

Am Heart J. 2011 May;161(5):915.e1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2011.02.011.

Abstract

Background: Supplementation with 1 g/d omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3-PUFAs) demonstrated a small survival advantage in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) in the GISSI-HF trial. However, a dose-efficacy relationship was postulated for the beneficial effects of n3-PUFA before. Therefore, we evaluated dose-dependent effects of n3-PUFA in patients with severe CHF.

Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, controlled pilot trial, 43 patients with severe, nonischemic heart failure received 1 g/d n3-PUFA (n = 14), 4 g/d n3-PUFA (n = 13), or placebo (n = 16) for 3 months. Changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), flow-mediated vasodilation, plasma high-sensitive interleukin 6 and high-sensitive tumor necrosis factor α, and exercise peak oxygen consumption were assessed.

Results: Left ventricular ejection fraction increased in a dose-dependent manner (P = .01 for linear trend) in the 4 (baseline vs 3 months [mean ± SD]: 24% ± 7% vs 29% ± 8%, P = .005) and 1 g/d treatment groups (24% ± 8% vs 27% ± 8%, P = .02). Flow-mediated vasodilation increased significantly with high-dose 4 g/d n3-PUFA (8.4% ± 4.8% vs 11.6% ± 7.0%, P = .01) but only trendwise with low-dose 1 g/d (8.3% ± 5.3% vs 10.2% ± 4.3%, P = .07). Interleukin 6 significantly decreased with 4 g/d n3-PUFA (3.0 ± 2.9 pg/mL vs 0.7 ± 0.8 pg/mL, P = .03) but only trendwise with 1 g/d (4.5 ± 6.6 pg/mL to 1.6 ± 2.1 pg/mL, P = .1). High-sensitive tumor necrosis factor α decreased trendwise with 4 g/d n3-PUFA but remained unchanged with 1 g/d. In patients with maximal exercise effort, only 4 g/d increased the peak oxygen consumption. No changes in any investigated parameters were noted with placebo.

Conclusion: Treatment with n3-PUFA for 3 months exerts a dose-dependent increase of LVEF in patients with CHF. In parallel, a significant improvement of endothelial function and decrease of interleukin 6 is found with high-dose n3-PUFA intervention.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00149409.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase III
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Failure / blood
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Contraction / drug effects*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Systole
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasodilation / drug effects*
  • Vasodilation / physiology
  • Ventricular Function, Left / drug effects*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00149409