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ω-3 Fatty Acids and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

A European Union Clinical and Financial Impact Evaluation of the Columbus Concept

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Wild-Type Food in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Abstract

Populations whose diet is low in ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and relatively high in ω-3 PUFA are known to have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Several clinical trials have examined dietary change as a therapeutic intervention and confirmed the benefit of this approach. This chapter presents the results of a meta-analysis that demonstrates that, in patients with established coronary heart disease, the risk of a recurrent event is reduced by 29% (95% confidence interval 6–47%) by the introduction of a diet with a low ω-6:ω-3 ratio. By appropriate crop and animal feed selection, it is possible to yield both plant and animal-derived fats that fulfil these dietary requirements, and which can be applied simply, and cheaply on a population-wide basis: the Columbus Concept. Given current approx annual management costs for myocardial infarction of €2.5 billion across the European Union, we estimate potential savings of around €570 million if such dietary change was universally instituted in high risk cardiovascular populations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. JB Medical Ltd, The Old Brickworks, Little Cornard, Sudbury, UK

    Jonathan D. Belsey MBBS

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  1. Jonathan D. Belsey MBBS
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  1. Belovo S. A., Bastogne, Belgium

    Fabien De Meester PhD (President and CEO) (President and CEO)

  2. Division of Health Promotion Sciences Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health School of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

    Ronald Ross Watson PhD

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© 2008 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Belsey, J.D. (2008). ω-3 Fatty Acids and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease. In: De Meester, F., Watson, R.R. (eds) Wild-Type Food in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-330-1_6

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