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Marine n-3 fatty acids: Basic features and background

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Lipids

Abstract

There is some evidence from epidemiology that intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from seafood may protect against coronary artery disease (CAD). This hypothesis is further supported from animal data showing a beneficial effect of n-3 PUFA on thrombosis and atherosclerosis in animals fed fish oils in most, but not all, studies. There are several mechanisms by which an increased intake of marine n-3 PUFA may protect against CAD; the most universal finding is a reduction of plasma triglycerides. It is puzzling, however, that a very low amount of n-3 PUFA, with no known beneficial biochemical effects, seems to be cardioprotective. It has therefore been of paramount interest to perform clinical trials. Such evidence and trials are discussed in later chapters, and the results have been very encouraging.

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Abbreviations

CAD:

coronary artery disease

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid

EPA:

eicosapentaenoic acid

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acids

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine Hjorring/Bronderslev Sygehus, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark

    Erik Berg Schmidt, Trine Madsen, Vibeke Ellegaard Hansen & Helle Aarup Skou

  2. Department of Nephrology, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark

    Jeppe Hagstrup Christensen & Sam Riahi

  3. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark

    Erik Berg Schmidt & Inge Aardestrup

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  1. Erik Berg Schmidt
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  2. Jeppe Hagstrup Christensen
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  4. Trine Madsen
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  7. Helle Aarup Skou
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Correspondence to Erik Berg Schmidt.

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Schmidt, E.B., Christensen, J.H., Aardestrup, I. et al. Marine n-3 fatty acids: Basic features and background. Lipids 36 (Suppl 1), S65–S68 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-001-0684-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-001-0684-x

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