The effect of OMEGA-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy

Background : Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which is characterized by lesion of nerve fibers in parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system is one of the leading causes of heart arrhythmias and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in patients with T2DM. Therefore, the problem of effective treatment of CAN is particularly relevant. Aims : To analyze the effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring parameters in patients with T2DM and CAN. Materials and methods : 36 patients with T2DM and confirmed CAN were divided into two groups. First group received hypoglycemic therapy (n=15, control) for three months; patients in group 2 (n=21) in addition were administered 1 capsule/q.d. of ω-3 PUFAs for three month. Results : Treatment with ω-3 PUFAs led to significant decrease of the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p<0,01), diastolic blood pressure load (p<0,05), time index of DBP (p<0,05) during the day; DBP (p<0,05), diastolic blood pressure load (p<0,05), time index of DBP (p<0,05), SD DBP (p<0,01) during the night (compared to the control group). Conclusions : The study showed that prescription of ω-3 PUFAs for three month was effective in decreasing diastolic blood pressure and its parameters among patients with T2DM and CAN.