NCT01442480

Cardioprotective Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in Healthy Older Subjects Exposed to Air Pollution Particles

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 29 (actual)
• Sponsor: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) · Federal
• Sex: All
• Age: 50 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Exposure to ambient levels of air pollution increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Advanced age is among the factors associated with susceptibility to the adverse effects of air pollution. Dietary fatty acid supplementation has been shown to decrease cardiovascular risk through multiple mechanisms. This study evaluated the efficacy of supplementation with marine fish oil or olive oil in protecting against cardiovascular effects induced by controlled exposure of middle-aged healthy volunteers to concentrated ambient air pollution particles. Subjects (ages 50 to72 years), were randomly assigned to receive 3 g/d of fish oil (1.2 g eicosapentaenoic acid and 0.82 g docosahexaenoic acid), or olive oil (3g/d) for 28 d. Subjects were then exposed to concentrated ambient air pollution particles or filtered air for 2 hr on sequential days. Heart rate variability (HRV), plasma lipids, coagulation markers, and endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD) were assessed pre-, immediately post-, and 20 hr post-exposure.

Conditions

• Healthy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Fish oil	Subjects (ages 50 to 75 years), were randomly assigned to receive 3 g/d of fish oil (1.2 g eicosapentaenoic acid and 0.82 g docosahexaenoic acid) for 28 d.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Olive oil	Subjects (ages 50 to 75 years) were randomly assigned to receive 3 g/d of olive oil for 28 d.

Timeline

• Start date: 2009-06-01
• Primary completion: 2010-08-01
• Completion: 2016-12-01
• First posted: 2011-09-28
• Last updated: 2025-08-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States