Use of Essential Fatty Acids for Hypertension

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Use of Essential Fatty Acids for Hypertension

 

Early detection is of great importance, since life style changes is

likely to prevent further development of serious complications.

 

Incorporation of GLA and DHA in the diet has proven to be one of

these changes that can reduce the blood pressure and help lower the

risk of heart attacks, stroke and kidney failure.

 

 

 

Borage oil and DHA have blood pressure lowering effects

 

In contrast to earlier beliefs, we now know that a stable systolic

blood pressure (below 140 mmHg) is equally or even more important

than a " normal " diastolic pressure (less than 90 mmHg).

 

Systolic blood pressure increases with aging as a result of

increased stiffness of the arteries and is a stronger predictor of

risk in the elderly than the diastolic pressure. A pulse pressure

(the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure) of more

than 60 is a marker for advanced atherosclerosis and indicates a

high risk for a

cardiovascular event.

 

In most cases of hypertension (95%) no specific reason can be found

for the elevated pressure, a condition known as essential or

idiopathic hypertension.

 

Results from a clinical, double blind, crossover study by Venter et

al. (1988) support the hypothesis that deficiency of the enzyme D6D,

so common in aging, may play an important part in the etiology of

idiopathic hypertension.

 

The study furthermore validates the earlier findings that a ratio of

2:1 of GLA and DHA/EPA is beneficial in prevention of cardiovascular

diseases.

 

This trial involved 25 non-obese patients with mild-moderate

essential hypertension.

 

One group was given capsules containing 360 mg GLA and 180 mg

EPA/day, while the other group received capsules containing only

linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, the parent EFAs that need

the enzyme D6D for their metabolism to GLA and EPA/DHA.

 

The average systolic blood pressure in the first group was

significantly reduced (~ 10 %) after 8 to 12 weeks of therapy, while

there was no significant change in the second group, indicating that

deficiency of the enzyme D6D is likely to promote an increase of

blood pressure.

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JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets