Hypertension induced by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency is alleviated by alpha-linolenic acid regardless of dietary source.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency, particularly during the prenatal period, can cause hypertension in later life. This study examined the effect of different sources of alpha-linolenic acid (canola oil or flaxseed oil) in the prevention of hypertension and other metabolic symptoms induced by an omega-3 fatty acid-deficient diet. Dams were provided one of three experimental diets from 1 week before mating. Diets were either deficient (10% safflower oil-DEF) or sufficient (7% safflower oil+3% flaxseed oil-SUF-F; or 10% canola oil-SUF-C) in omega-3 fatty acids. The male offspring were continued on the maternal diet from weaning for the duration of the study. Body weight, ingestive behaviors, blood pressure, body composition, metabolic rate, plasma leptin and brain fatty acids were all assessed. The DEF animals were hypertensive at 24 weeks of age compared with SUF-F or SUF-C animals; this was not evident at 12 weeks. These results suggest that different sources of ALA are effective in preventing hypertension related to omega-3 fatty acid deficiency. However, there were other marked differences between the DEF and, in particular, the SUF-C phenotype including lowered body weight, adiposity, leptin and food intake in SUF-C animals. SUF-F animals also had lower, but less marked reductions in adiposity and leptin compared with DEF animals. The differences observed between DEF, SUF-F and SUF-C phenotypes indicate that body fat and leptin may be involved in omega-3 fatty acid deficiency hypertension.