Positive Health Online

Abstract

CONNOR and CONNOR, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland USA connors@ohsu.edu. write that omega-3 fatty acids of fish and fish oil have great potential in the prevention and treatment of patients with coronary artery disease. @r: The eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids of fish oil possess multifaceted actions, unlike the many pharmaceutical agents which possess only a single mechanism of action. As documented in studies with cultured myocytes, animal experiments, epidemiological studies and clinical trials, some of the most important properties of omega-3 fatty acids and fish oils include the prevention of cardiac arrhythmias, the inhibition of ventricular fibrillation and consequent cardiac arrest. EPA possesses several antithrombotic actions, particularly the inhibition of the synthesis of thromboxane A2, the prostaglandin causing platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction. Fish oil retards the growth of atherosclerotic plaque by inhibiting cellular growth factors and the migration of monocytes. Omega-3 fatty acids promote the synthesis of beneficial endothelial nitric oxide and human studies show that fish oil has a profound hypolipidaemic effect, and lowers plasma triacylglycerol. Fish oil also inhibits very-low-density lipoprotein (LDL) production, apolipoprotein B synthesis and has a mild blood pressure-lowering effect in both normal and mildly hypertensive individuals. @c: The above composite effects suggest a prominent therapeutic role for fish oil in the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease. @q:Connor SL and Connor WE. Are fish oils beneficial in the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease? Am J Clin Nutr 66 (4 Suppl): 1020S-1031S. Oct 1997.

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