Minimum Time Effect of Fish Oil on Arterial Stiffness

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Arterial Stiffness

• Registration Number: NCT06981364
• Lead Sponsor: Salisbury University

Brief Summary

This study will seek to determine the minimum time of 4 g/day fish oil supplementation to cause a clinically significant effect on arterial stiffness. Accordingly, 30 moderately active, otherwise healthy adult subjects who are not currently taking any dietary supplementations will be recruited for the study. They will be randomized in a double-blind fashion into one of two groups: placebo group or fish oil dietary supplementation group. Subjects will either receive 4 g/day fish oil or placebo for 6 weeks. Each subject will undergo a series of baseline and follow-up tests including anthropometry, ultrasonography of the carotid artery, applanation tonometry, and blood pressure acquisition at week 0, 2, 4, and 6. Subjects will be required to maintain an activity and food log. Subjects will be asked to maintain their normal activity pattern during the study period. Repeated measures analysis of variance will be used to examine the effects of treatment and the treatment-order interaction on arterial stiffness (and other dependent variables).

Detailed Description

To determine the minimum amount of time for a clinically significant effect of daily fish oil supplementation on arterial stiffness (Figure 1). 30 subjects will be randomized in a double-blind fashion into one of two groups: placebo group or fish oil dietary supplementation group. An individual not associated with the project will monitor the randomization and blinding process. He/she will not be involved in the follow-up data collection. All analyses will be conducted in a blinded fashion.

Pre-enrollment Screening. Several study information sessions will be offered to potential subjects prior to the start of the study. These information sessions will be conducted by the principle investigator. The principle investigator will also arrange office meetings for those who have a time conflict with the information sessions. After obtaining written informed consent the potential candidates will be screened to determine if they satisfy the basic criteria of the study (see below). Candidates will be instructed to fill out a Health History Questionnaire in a place of their choosing. Candidates who successfully complete the screening process will be invited to undergo baseline and follow-up testing (see details below).

Baseline and Follow-up Testing: For baseline and follow-up testing subjects will arrive at Salisbury University Simulation Center between 8:00 and 11:00 am after a 12 hour overnight fast and having performed no vigorous physical activity for the previous 48 hours. Subjects will also be required to abstain from caffeine-containing food or beverages for the previous 24 hours. Each visit will be separated by a period of two weeks.

Visit 1: Resting BP; urine sample (female participants only); anthropometric measurements; high resolution ultrasound and carotid tonometry for measurement of arterial stiffness; pulse wave velocity; dispensing of placebo or fish oil supplement.

Visit 2: Resting BP; anthropometric measurements; high resolution ultrasound and carotid tonometry for measurement of arterial stiffness; pulse wave velocity; dispensing of placebo or fish oil supplement.

Visit 3: Resting BP; anthropometric measurements; high resolution ultrasound and carotid tonometry for measurement of arterial stiffness; pulse wave velocity; dispensing of placebo or fish oil supplement.

Visit 4: Resting BP; anthropometric measurements; high resolution ultrasound and carotid tonometry for measurement of arterial stiffness; pulse wave velocity; dispensing of placebo or fish oil supplement.

Note #1: If resting BP measurements are \>130/80 mmHg during the first visit, the subject will be asked to schedule the session at least 48 hours later. If the resting BP measurements are \>130/80 mmHg during the next visit, they will be excluded from the study and instructed to follow-up with their primary care provider.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2022-10-01
• Primary Completion: 2022-12-15
• Study Completion: 2023-01-05
• Status Verified: 2023-04
• Study First Submitted: 2023-04-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-05-13
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-13
• Study First Posted: 2025-05-20
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-20

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 26

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age 18-30 yearsa,d
2. Moderately active (exercise 3-5 days per week, >30 min per day)
3. Weight stable for previous 6 months (>2.5 kg)
4. Willing to be randomized to treatments and commit to all aspect of study
5. Provide health history questionnaire and informed consent.
6. Female subjects only- reported regular menstrual cycles for the last 2 years

Exclusion Criteria

1. BP>140/90
2. Diabetes
3. Familial hypercholesterolemia
4. Past or current history of CHD, stroke or major CVD events. Respiratory diseases, endocrine or metabolic, neurological, or hematological disorders that would compromise the study or the health of the subject.
5. Active renal or liver disease
6. All medications that influence dependent variablesb
7. Recent surgery
8. Alcohol abusec
9. Women must not be pregnant, plan to become pregnant during the study, or be nursing
10. Claustrophobia

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Primary Aim	6 weeks	The secondary outcome of the proposed study will be pulse wave velocity which is measure of the time delay between the arrival of the pulse wave at the carotid and femoral arteries.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Salisbury University; 🇺🇸 Salisbury, Maryland, United States