Diets enriched in monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acids decrease blood pressure without modifying plasma insulin concentration in healthy subjects

BACKGROUND: Plasma glucose, insulin and blood pressure are wellknown cardio vascular risk factors, which may be influence by dietary factors. The aim o f the study was to investigate whether changes in dietary fatty acids could modify plasma concentration of glucose, insulin and mean blood pressure (M BP). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty two subjects (18 women and 24 men) were placed in four consecutive five week diet periods. Energy intake from proteins, ca rbohydrates and fats was constant during the study and there was only chang es on fatty acids composition. First period was enriched on saturated fatty acids (SFA), second period on monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and third and fourth periods were enriched on polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Fo urth period was also enriched on PUFA n-3. RESULTS: NO significant changes were found on glucose and insulin plasma co ncentration. However, a significant effect was detected on MBP on total pop ulation (p < 0.0001) and by gender, MUFA and PUFA n-3 enriched diet decreas ed significantly MBP compared to SFA enriched diet AGS (85.7, SD 9.1, 87.3, SD 8,7 y 90,3, SD 8.8 mmHg, respectively). In addition, a weak (r = 0.28) but significant (p = 0.002) correlation was found between MBP and plasma in sulin. CONCLUSIONS: Diets enriched on MUFA fatty acids and n-3 fatty acids decreas e significantly MBP without modifying glucose and insulin plasma concentrat ion.