Are dietary fatty acid intakes associated with arterial stiffness and blood pressure?

CVD is the major cause of death in Western societies. Arterial stiffness is a key factor in cardiovascular physiology, reflecting the alterations to the mechanical properties of the blood vessels(1). It can be measured using non-invasive techniques, including pulse wave velocity (PWV), pulse wave analysis (PWA) and digital volume pulse (DVP), and is influenced by age and hypertension. Arterial stiffness and hypertension have been shown to be positively associated with CVD events(2,3). Dietary fat intake contributes to the development and progression of CVD in addition to arterial stiffness. To date only limited data is available on arterial stiffness, with reports of high-dietary intakes of SFA associated with increased stiffness, in contrast with high-dietary intakes of PUFA associated with reductions in arterial stiffness(4). The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between dietary fatty acid intake and arterial stiffness and blood pressure in a group at increased risk of CVD.