Moderate Dietary Supplementation with Omega-3 Fatty Acids Does Not Impact Plasma Von Willebrand Factor Profile in Mildly Hypertensive Subjects

Long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFAs) have blood pressure lowering and antithrombotic effects, which may benefit hypertensive patients. Increased plasma concentration of von Willebrand factor (vWF), a procoagulant glycoprotein, has been identified in patients with severe hypertension, with some, but not all studies showing an increase with mild hypertension. In this study, we determined the plasma concentration, multimer distribution, and collagen binding activity of vWF in subjects with mild hypertension and determined whether these parameters might improve after dietary supplementation with moderate amounts of LC n-3 PUFAs. Hypertensive and normotensive subjects were randomized to 12-week treatment with LC n-3 PUFAs (2.52 g/day) or placebo (canola oil). Home blood pressure measurements were recorded daily, and blood samples were collected every 3 weeks. LC n-3 PUFAs increased the n-3 index to cardioprotective levels (>8%). Plasma concentration, multimer distribution, and collagen binding activity of vWF were not reduced by LC n-3 PUFA treatment. We conclude that, at the concentration and duration used in this study, benefits of LC n-3 PUFAs in subjects with mild hypertension are not associated with a direct effect on vWF concentration or function. This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12610000713099.