Fish oil-enriched diet protects against ischemia by improving angiogenesis, endothelial progenitor cell function and postnatal neovascularization

Abstract Background Fish oil consumption has been associated with a reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases. However, the precise mechanisms involved are not completely understood. Here we tested the hypothesis that a fish oil-enriched diet improves neovascularization in response to ischemia. Methods and results C57Bl/6 mice were fed a diet containing either 20% fish oil, rich in long-chain n -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), or 20% corn oil, rich in n -6 PUFAs. After 4 weeks, hindlimb ischemia was surgically induced by femoral artery removal. We found that blood flow recovery was significantly improved in mice fed a fish oil diet compared to those fed a corn oil diet (Doppler flow ratio (DFR) at day 21 after surgery 78 ± 5 vs. 56 ± 4; p