Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on the physical properties of the common carotid artery in elderly patients with atherosclerosis

This study was conducted to assess the effects of antiatherosclerotic treat ment with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on the hemodynamics and physical prop erties of the common carotid artery in elderly patients with atherosclerosi s, EPA, found in high levels in fish oil, is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fat ty acid that has a variety of pharmacologic effects, including antiplatelet , arterial elasticity-maintaining, and hypolipidemic, EPA has proved to be useful in treating arteriosclerosis obliterans, A total of 18 patients (mea n age, 76.2 +/- 5.7 years) with atherosclerosis underwent complete Doppler ultrasonic examination of the common carotid artery before and after 16 wee ks of treatment with EPA (900 mg or 1800 mg daily), The presence of atheros clerosis was determined by clinical findings, especially according to physi cal properties of the common carotid artery derived by ultrasound examinati on. The minimal diameter of the common carotid artery at minimal blood pres sure decreased significantly from 7.64 +/- 0.93 mm to 7.21 +/- 0.97 mm (P < 0.05) after 16 weeks of treatment with EPA, Distensibility of the common c arotid artery increased significantly as shown by the significant decrease in the elastic modulus and the stiffness parameter (from 10.91 +/- 5.18 x 1 0(5) dyne/cm(2) to 8.95 +/- 2.78 x 105 dyne/cm(2) and from 6.44 +/- 2.79 to 5.41 +/- 1.79, respectively; P < 0.05), These results indicate that EPA ha s an antiatherosclerotic effect in elderly patients.