α‐Linolenic acid and exercise training independently, and additively, decrease blood pressure and prevent diastolic dysfunction in obese Zucker rats

Key points α‐linolenic acid (ALA) and exercise training both attenuate hyperlipidaemia‐related cardiovascular derangements, however, there is a paucity of information pertaining to their mechanisms of action when combined. We investigated both the independent and combined effects of exercise training and ALA consumption in obese Zucker rats, aiming to determine the potential for additive improvements in cardiovascular function. ALA and exercise training independently improved cardiac output, end‐diastolic volume, left ventricular fibrosis and mean blood pressure following a 4 week intervention. Combining ALA and endurance exercise yielded greater improvements in these parameters, independent of changes in markers of oxidative stress or endogenous anti‐oxidants. We postulate that divergent mechanisms of action may explain these changes: ALA increases peripheral vasodilation, and exercise training stimulates angiogenesis. Although α‐linolenic acid (ALA) and endurance exercise training independently attenuate hyperlipidaemia‐related cardiovascular derangements, there is a paucity of information pertaining to their mechanisms of action and efficacy when combined as a preventative therapeutic approach. Therefore, we used obese Zucker rats to investigate the independent and combined effects of these interventions on cardiovascular disease. Specifically, animals were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: control diet‐sedentary, ALA supplemented‐sedentary, control diet‐exercise trained or ALA supplemented‐exercise trained. Following a 4 week intervention, although the independent and combined effects of ALA and exercise reduced (P