McLennan, P.Howe, P.Abeywardena, M.Muggli, R.Raederstorff, D.Mano, M.Rayner, T.Head, R.2006-07-262006-07-261996European Journal of Pharmacology, 1996; 300(1-2):83-890014-29991879-0712http://hdl.handle.net/2440/14441Dietary fish oils rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can modulate a diverse range of factors contributing to cardiovascular disease. This study examined the relative roles of eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n-3; EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3; DHA) which are the principal n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids regarded as candidates for cardioprotective actions. At low dietary intakes (0.4–1.1% of energy (%en)), docosahexaenoic acid but not eicosapentaenoic acid inhibited ischaemia-induced cardiac arrhythmias. At intakes of 3.9–10.0%en, docosahexaenoic acid was more effective than eicosapentaenoic acid at retarding hypertension development in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and inhibiting thromboxane-like vasoconstrictor responses in aortas from SHR. In stroke-prone SHR with established hypertension, docosahexaenoic acid (3.9–10.0%en) retarded the development of salt-loading induced proteinuria but eicosapentaenoic acid alone was ineffective. The results demonstrate that purified n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids mimic the cardiovascular actions of fish oils and imply that docosahexaenoic acid may be the principal active component conferring cardiovascular protection.en© 1996 Elsevier Science B.VDietary fatn-3 fatty acidArrhythmiaBlood pressureProteinuriaThromboxaneJournal article0030003403001996399210.1016/0014-2999(95)00861-6A1996UG949000132-s2.0-8495286086267409Howe, P. [0000-0001-6546-7742]Head, R. [0000-0002-1196-0926]