Fish Oils and Vascular Disease Prevention: An Update

Abstract

Considerable epidemiological data confirmed the existence of favorable associations between fish consumption and mortality from cardiovascular disease. Accumulating evidence suggests that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation is an effective additive treatment for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Another indication for the use of n-3 PUFA is the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia as monotherapy or in combination with other lipid lowering agents (e.g. statins or fibrates). However, high doses of n-3 PUFA are required for this effect (e.g. 3-4 g/day). Fish oils may be acting via several mechanisms that include antiarrhythmic, antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects as well as plaque stabilization. Despite the current evidence supporting a beneficial effect of fish oils on vascular disease, more definitive studies than the ones already performed are required. Some ongoing trials may provide further insight into the indications for fish oil supplementation. This review considers the mechanisms accounting for the cardioprotective properties of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. We also discuss the epidemiological and interventional studies evaluating the relationship between n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids consumption and cardiovascular disease.

Production of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrates: A review

“…The latest overview found about the effect of omega-3 fatty acids in rheumatoid arthritis was published in 1998 (Ariza-Ariza, MestanzaPeralta, & Cardiel, 1998) although there is a more recent one (2006) not published in English (Stancík, Rovenský, & Stančíková, 2006). Several recent reviews on cardiovascular effects have also been recently published (Biscione, Pignalberi, Totteri, Messina, & Altamura, 2007;Tziomalos, Athyros, & Mikhailidis, 2007;vonSchacky & Harris, 2007;Das, 2008). vonSchacky and Harris (2007) proposed the omega-3 index (percentage of EPA + DHA of total fatty acids in red blood cells) as a risk factor for sudden cardiac death and concluded that this index should be higher than 8%.…”

Vascular risk factors in South Asians

“…In addition, frying was a common food preparation method among South Asians [94]. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) confer CVD protection through a variety of mechanisms [98]. South Asians show a lower consumption of n-3 PUFA than Europeans [96].…”

Caracterización del consumo de pescado y mariscos en población universitaria de la ciudad de Medellín - Colombia

“…La importancia del consumo de productos pesqueros para la salud ha sido ampliamente reportada en la literatura 4 , entre sus beneficios se encuentran la presencia de nutrientes importantes para el bienestar humano, entre ellos los ácidos grasos polinsaturados como el EPA (ácido eicosapentaenoico C20:5) y DHA (ácido docosahexaenoico C22:6) que ayudan en la prevención de enfermedades 5 ; ayudan a mantener un buen funcionamiento del sistema cardiovascular 6,7 ; proporciona protección de las membranas plasmáticas neuronales por lo cual previene enfermedades como el Alzheimer 8 , adicionalmente su consumo se ha asociado con menor prevalencia de diabetes 9 .…”