American Heart Journal
Volume 151, Issue 3 , Pages 564-570 , March 2006

Understanding omega-3's

  • Andrew P. DeFilippis, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of General Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Andrew P. DeFilippis, MD, Division of General Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 49 Jessie Hill Jr Dr, Atlanta, GA 30303.
    • ,
  • Laurence S. Sperling, MD, FACC, FACP

      Affiliations

    • Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

Received 15 December 2004 ,Accepted 26 March 2005.

References 

  1. Dyerberg J, Bang HO, Stoffersen E, et al. Eicosapentaenoic acid and prevention of thrombosis and atherosclerosis?. Lancet. 1978;2:117–119
  2. Kris-Etherton PM, Harris WS, Appel LJ, et al. Nutrition C. Fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular disease. [erratum appears in Circulation 2003;107:512] Circulation. 2002;106:2747–2757
  3. Burdge G. Alpha-linolenic acid metabolism in men and women: nutritional and biological implications. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004;7:137–144
  4. Mozaffarian DM, Ascherio A, Hu FB, et al. Interplay between different polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk of coronary heart disease in men. Circulation. 2005;111:166–173
  5. US Department of Health and Human Services AfHRaQ . Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular disease. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Summ). 2004;1–8
  6. Simopoulos AP. Essential fatty acids in health and chronic disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;70(3 Suppl):560S–569S
  7. Eaton SB, Konner M. Paleolithic nutrition. A consideration of its nature and current implications. N Engl J Med. 1985;312:283–289
  8. Crawford MA. Fatty-acid ratios in free-living and domestic animals. Possible implications for atheroma. Lancet. 1968;1:1329–1333
  9. van Vliet T, Katan MB. Lower ratio of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids in cultured than in wild fish. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990;51:1–2
  10. Simopoulos AP, Salem N. Purslane: a terrestrial source of omega-3 fatty acids. N Engl J Med. 1986;315:833
  11. Ross R. Atherosclerosis—an inflammatory disease. N Engl J Med. 1999;340:115–126
  12. Ridker PM, Hennekens CH, Buring JE, et al. C-reactive protein and other markers of inflammation in the prediction of cardiovascular disease in women. N Engl J Med. 2000;342:836–843
  13. Lopez-Garcia E, Schulze MB, Manson JE, et al. Consumption of (n-3) fatty acids is related to plasma biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial activation in women. J Nutr. 2004;134:1806–1811
  14. Pischon T, Hankinson SE, Hotamisligil GS, et al. Habitual dietary intake of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in relation to inflammatory markers among US men and women. Circulation. 2003;108:155–160
  15. Weber PC, Leaf A. Cardiovascular effects of omega 3 fatty acids. Atherosclerosis risk factor modification by omega 3 fatty acids. World Rev Nutr Diet. 1991;66:218–232
  16. Weber PC. Clinical studies on the effects of n-3 fatty acids on cells and eicosanoids in the cardiovascular system. J Intern Med Suppl. 1989;225:61–68
  17. Harper CR, Jacobson TA. The fats of life: the role of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of coronary heart disease. Arch Intern Med. 2001;161:2185–2192
  18. Kromhout D, Bosschieter EB, de Lezenne Coulander C. The inverse relation between fish consumption and 20-year mortality from coronary heart disease. N Engl J Med. 1985;312:1205–1209
  19. Daviglus ML, Stamler J, Orencia AJ, et al. Fish consumption and the 30-year risk of fatal myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 1997;336:1046–1053
  20. Albert CM, Hennekens CH, O'Donnell CJ, et al. Fish consumption and risk of sudden cardiac death. JAMA. 1998;279:23–28
  21. Hu FB, Bronner L, Willett WC, et al. Fish and omega-3 fatty acid intake and risk of coronary heart disease in women. JAMA. 2002;287:1815–1821
  22. Dolecek TA. Epidemiological evidence of relationships between dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and mortality in the multiple risk factor intervention trial. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1992;200:177–182
  23. Rodriguez BL, Sharp DS, Abbott RD, et al. Fish intake may limit the increase in risk of coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality among heavy smokers. The Honolulu Heart Program. Circulation. 1996;94:952–956
  24. Ascherio A, Rimm EB, Stampfer MJ, et al. Dietary intake of marine n-3 fatty acids, fish intake, and the risk of coronary disease among men. N Engl J Med. 1995;332:977–982
  25. Albert CM, Campos H, Stampfer MJ, et al. Blood levels of long-chain n-3 fatty acids and the risk of sudden death. N Engl J Med. 2002;346:1113–1118
  26. Burr ML, Fehily AM, Gilbert JF, et al. Effects of changes in fat, fish, and fibre intakes on death and myocardial reinfarction: diet and reinfarction trial (DART). Lancet. 1989;2:757–761
  27. Ness AR, Hughes J, Elwood PC, et al. The long-term effect of dietary advice in men with coronary disease: follow-up of the Diet and Reinfarction Trial (DART). Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002;56:512–518
  28. Singh RB, Niaz MA, Sharma JP, et al. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of fish oil and mustard oil in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction: the Indian experiment of infarct survival–4. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 1997;11:485–491
  29. de Lorgeril M, Renaud S, Mamelle N, et al. Mediterranean alpha-linolenic acid–rich diet in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. [erratum appears in Lancet 1995;345:738] Lancet. 1994;343:1454–1459
  30. de Lorgeril M, Salen P, Martin JL, et al. Mediterranean diet, traditional risk factors, and the rate of cardiovascular complications after myocardial infarction: final report of the Lyon Diet Heart Study. Circulation. 1999;99:779–785
  31. Anonymous . Dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E after myocardial infarction: results of the GISSI-Prevenzione trial. Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto miocardico. [erratum appears in Lancet 2001;357:642] Lancet. 1999;354:447–455
  32. Omacor [package insert]. Liberty Corner (NJ): Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2004.
  33. Lewis A, Lookinland S, Beckstrand RL, et al. Treatment of hypertriglyceridemia with omega-3 fatty acids: a systematic review. J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2004;16:384–395
  34. Green ML. Management of dyslipidemias in the age of statins. Prim Care Clin Off Pract. 2003;30:641–669
  35. Farmer A, Montori V, Dinneen S, et al. Fish oil in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;CD003205
  36. Chan DC, Watts GF, Barrett PH, et al. Regulatory effects of HMG CoA reductase inhibitor and fish oils on apolipoprotein B-100 kinetics in insulin-resistant obese male subjects with dyslipidemia. Diabetes. 2002;51:2377–2386
  37. Chan DC, Watts GF, Mori TA, et al. Factorial study of the effects of atorvastatin and fish oil on dyslipidaemia in visceral obesity. Eur J Clin Invest. 2002;32:429–436
  38. Nordoy A, Bonaa KH, Nilsen H, et al. Effects of simvastatin and omega-3 fatty acids on plasma lipoproteins and lipid peroxidation in patients with combined hyperlipidaemia. J Intern Med. 1998;243:163–170
  39. US Department of Health and Human Services AfHRaQ . Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular risk factors and intermediate markers of cardiovascular disease. Evid Rep Technol Assess. 2004;1–6
  40. Administration USFaD. Safety reporting requirements for human drug and biological products. 2003:21 CFR Part 310, 312, 314, 320, 600, 606.
  41. Clarkson TW, Magos L, Myers GJ. The toxicology of mercury—current exposures and clinical manifestations. N Engl J Med. 2003;349:1731–1737
  42. Myers GJ, Davidson PW, Cox C, et al. Prenatal methylmercury exposure from ocean fish consumption in the Seychelles child development study. Lancet. 2003;361:1686–1692
  43. Administration USFaD . Center for food safety and applied nutrition. 2004;[12/1/2004]
  44. Foran SE, Flood JG, Lewandrowski KB. Measurement of mercury levels in concentrated over-the-counter fish oil preparations: is fish oil healthier than fish?. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2003;127:1603–1605
  45. Brouwer IA, Katan MB, Zock PL. Dietary alpha-linolenic acid is associated with reduced risk of fatal coronary heart disease, but increased prostate cancer risk: a meta-analysis. J Nutr. 2004;134:919–922
  46. Terry PD, Terry JB, Rohan TE. Long-chain (n-3) fatty acid intake and risk of cancers of the breast and the prostate: recent epidemiological studies, biological mechanisms, and directions for future research. J Nutr. 2004;134(12 Suppl):3412S–3420S

PII: S0002-8703(05)00351-0

doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2005.03.051

American Heart Journal
Volume 151, Issue 3 , Pages 564-570 , March 2006

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution