Key Findings
This study found that alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and exercise training both attenuate hyperlipidemia-related cardiovascular derangements. The independent, and combined effects, of exercise training and ALA consumption were studied in obese Zucker rats 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 antioxidants. The current data highlights the ability of both ALA supplementation and endurance exercise training to improve lipid profiles, reduce myocardial fibrosis, improve diastolic function, and lower MBP, while also delineating that combining ALA with endurance exercise training additively lowers MBP and improves diastolic function in obese Zucker rats.