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Omega-3 Fatty Acids: A Growing Ocean of Choices

  • Nonstatin Drugs (WB Borden, Section Editor)
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Abstract

There has been increasing interest in the health benefits of supplemental and/or dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly in their role in disease prevention. This interest escalated once their effects on cardiovascular health were observed from numerous observational studies in populations whose diet consisted mainly of fish. Research has since been undertaken on omega-3 PUFAs to investigate their health benefits in a vast array of medical conditions, including primary and secondary prevention. This article discusses the evidence and controversies concerning omega-3 PUFAs in various health conditions. In addition to the effects on cardiovascular health, omega-3 PUFAs have been shown to prevent the development of dementia, reduce systemic inflammatory diseases, prevent prostate cancer, and possibly have a role in the treatment of depression and bipolar disorder.

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Abbreviations

AF:

Atrial fibrillation

ALA:

α-Linolenic acid

CHD:

Coronary heart disease

CRP:

C-reactive protein

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid

FORWARD:

Fish Oil Research with Omega-3 for Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence Delaying

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid

GISSI-HF:

Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto Miocardico–Heart Failure

HDL:

High-density lipoprotein

HF:

Heart failure

JELIS:

Japan Eicosapentaenoic Acid Lipid Intervention Study

LA:

Linoleic acid

LDL:

Low-density lipoprotein

MARINE:

Multi-Center, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized, Double-Blind, 12-Week Study with an Open-Label Extension

MI:

Myocardial infarction

ORIGIN:

Outcome Reduction with Initial Glargine Intervention

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

SCD:

Sudden cardiac death

T2D:

Type 2 diabetes

TG:

Triglyceride

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Conflict of Interest

Hassan Fares, James DiNicolantonio, and Richard V. Milani declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Carl J. Lavie is a consultant to GlaxoSmithKline, Amarin, and Abbott.

James H. O’Keefe has received honoraria from GlaxoSmithKline and is Chief Medical Officer and the founder of CardioTabs, in which he has a major ownership interest that is nonmonetary. CardioTabs sells products that contain omega-3 fatty acids.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hospital Medicine, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Hassan Fares

  2. Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School–University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Carl J. Lavie & Richard V. Milani

  3. Department of Preventive Medicine, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    Carl J. Lavie

  4. Mid America Heart Institute at Saint Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City, MI, USA

    James J. DiNicolantonio

  5. Mid America Heart Institute, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MI, USA

    James H. O’Keefe

  6. Cardiac Rehabilitation, Exercise Laboratories, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School–University of Queensland School of Medicine, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA, 70121-2483, USA

    Carl J. Lavie

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  1. Hassan Fares
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  2. Carl J. Lavie
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  3. James J. DiNicolantonio
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  4. James H. O’Keefe
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  5. Richard V. Milani
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Correspondence to Carl J. Lavie.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Nonstatin Drugs

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Fares, H., Lavie, C.J., DiNicolantonio, J.J. et al. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: A Growing Ocean of Choices. Curr Atheroscler Rep 16, 389 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-013-0389-6

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