Antiatherogenic effects of n-3 fatty acids – evidence and mechanisms
Abstract
Overview
N-3 (omega-3) (polyunsaturated) fatty acids are thought to display a variety of beneficial
effects for human health. Clues to the occurrence of cardiovascular protective effects
have been, however, the spur for the first biomedical interest in these compounds, and are the
best documented. Historically, the epidemiologic association between dietary consumption of
n-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular protection was first suggested by Bang and Dyerberg, who
identified the high consumption of fish, and therefore, of fish oil-derived n-3 fatty acids, as the
likely explanation for the strikingly low rate of coronary heart disease events reported in the Inuit
population. Since their initial reports, research has proceeded in parallel to provide further evidence
for their cardioprotection and to understand underlying mechanisms. Decreased atherogenesis
is currently thought to be a part of the cardiovascular protection by n-3 fatty acids. This
article summarizes the evidence for such a claim and the mechanisms putatively involved. (Heart
International 2006; 3-4: 141-54)
Keywords
Coronary heart disease, Fish, Fish oil, Omega-3 fatty acids, n-3 fatty acids, Cardioprotection, Nutrigenomics
Article Information
Correspondence
Raffaele De Caterina, MD, PhD, Chair and Postgraduate School of Cardiology, “G. d’Annunzio” University – Chieti, Ospedale San Camillo de Lellis, Via C. Forlanini, 50, 66100 Chieti – Italy, rdecater@unich.it
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the kind and expert editorial
help of Dr. Brunella Orlandi.
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