Nearly 10 million people die every year from high blood pressure-related conditions, such as heart attacks, stroke, and irregular heartbeats. Robust evidence demonstrates that dietary components play important roles in preventing or managing high blood pressure Findings from a recent umbrella meta-analysis suggest that omega-3 fatty acids reduce blood pressure.

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that play critical roles in human health, participating in a wide range of biochemical pathways and processes and modulating the expression of genes throughout the lifespan. A growing body of evidence indicates that omega-3 fatty acids may prevent or ameliorate multiple conditions associated with cardiovascular disease.

The investigators conducted an umbrella meta-analysis, a type of review that analyzes the findings of previous meta-analyses. In all, they reviewed 10 meta-analyses, involving more than 6,300 ethnically and geographically diverse participants ranging in age from 34 to 55 years. Omega-3 doses ranged from 2.2 to 6 grams per day, and the duration of supplementation ranged from 4 to 29 weeks.

The investigators found that omega-3s reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and this effect was greater in studies that used higher doses for a longer duration. The number and ages of participants influenced the effect, as well, with studies that included fewer than 400 participants or those with participants over the age of 45 years reflecting a greater effect. Learn more about the health effects of omega-3s in this episode featuring Dr. Bill Harris.

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