Fish and High Blood Pressure

Researchers at the University of Western Australia in Perth studied the effect of daily fish consumption on overweight patients being treated for hypertension. Obesity in hypertensive people is associated with insulin resistance and an increase in blood lipids (fats). Weight control and the n-3 fatty acids found in fish have positive effects on the mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis. These include lowering triglycerides and increasing the levels of HDL the good cholesterol). In this study, 69 overweight and hypertensive patients were assigned to one of four groups. The first group had a daily fish meal (3.5 gm n-3 fatty acids). The second had a weight loss regimen with the other two either combining the two regimens or acting as controls (no treatment). The greatest weight loss occurred in the diet plus fish group. There was no independent effect of fish on either insulin or glucose. The fish diet did increase the HDL (2) cholesterol but had no effect on the total LDL or HDL levels. The fish-plus-weight-loss diet seemed to give the greatest improvement in lipids. The combined group had the greatest fall in triglycerides (38%) while HDL cholesterol increased by 24%. Triglycerides fell 29% in the fish-alone group and fell 26% in the diet-alone group. Adding fish to a weight loss diet was more effective than either regimen alone and should reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis.

[Source:] Mori, TA, et al. Dietary fish as a major component of a weight loss diet: effect on serum lipids, glucose, and insulin metabolism in overweight hypertensive subjects. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1999 (Nov);70:817-825. (Abs)