Study reveals mechanism providing benefit of omega-3 fatty acids on Cardiovascular health

A new study has uncovered a mechanism by which omega-3 fatty acids can benefit Cardiovascular health. Prof. Heinemann (Jena University), Prof. Dr. Michael Bauer (Jena University Hospital) and Prof. Dr. Toshinori Hoshi (University of Pennsylvania) have shown that the 'SLO1' potassium channel is an important component in the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids. These ionic channels act like very specific receptors for DHA and are opened by the binding of the omega-3 fatty acids. Administration of DHA results in an expansion of the blood vessels and consequently a drop in blood pressure.

In the case of other omega-3 fatty acids like shorter eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or the a-linolenic acid (ALA) extracted from plants, the impact is much weaker. A variant of DHA, which can often be found in nutritional supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids, doesn't show an antihypertensive effect, which might explain contradictory results. Moreover, it suppresses and even diminishes the effect of the natural DHA from fish oil. See: �Omega-3 fatty acids lower blood pressure by directly activating large-conductance Ca2+-dependent K+ channels.� Hoshi, T. et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1221997110)