A study published in the Journal of Nutrition has found that consuming as little as 0.7g of fish oil per day can reduce blood pressure.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of East Anglia, led by Dr Anne Marie Minihane, involved 312 healthy adults aged between 20-70 whose blood pressure and other markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) was assessed prior to commencement.
The subjects were given either supplements containing 0.7g or 1.8g of omega-3s or a control supplement for eight weeks.
The researchers found that those consuming fish oil supplements saw reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) with both doses, but only if they had systolic hypertension (SHT) when the studied began.
The study’s authors concluded: “Our main finding is that intakes of EPA+DHA, achievable through the consumption of two to three portions of oily fish per week or two capsules, reduced SBP by 5mm Hg in those with SHT. Such a reduction in BP would be associated with roughly a 20% reduction in CVD risk in middle age.”
