Positive Health Online

Abstract

MYHRSTAD and COLLEAGUES, Faculty of Health, Nutrition and Management, Akershus University College, PO box 423, 2001, Lillestrom, Norway reviewed the published the literature regarding the effects of omega-3 fatty acids upon markers in healthy individuals at elevated risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Background

The aim of the present paper was to review the literature in order to summarize the effects of marine n-3 fatty acids on circulating inflammatory markers among healthy subjects, subjects with high risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and in patients with CVD in human intervention studies.

Methodology

A systematic literature search in PubMed was performed. Intervention studies describing the effects of marine n-3 fatty acids on circulating inflammatory markers in healthy subjects, subjects with high risk of CVD and patients with CVD were included. The following exclusion criteria were used: (1); interventions assessing inflammatory markers with ex vivo methods (2); interventions with children (3); articles describing animal or cell culture studies. Twenty-two articles were included. Additionally, 13 papers from their literature lists were included based on the same inclusion and exclusion criteria as the literature search.

Results

Intervention studies with marine n-3 fatty acids administered from either fish or fish oil demonstrate different results on inflammatory markers. No firm conclusion can be drawn about the effect of marine n-3 fatty acids on circulating inflammatory markers in healthy individuals, individuals with high risk of developing CVD or individuals with CVD related diseases.

Conclusion

References

Myhrstad MC, Retterstol K, Telle-Hansen VH, Ottestad I, Halvorsen B, Holven KB and Ulven SM. Effect of marine n-3 fatty acids on circulating inflammatory markers in healthy subjects and subjects with cardiovascular risk factors. [Review] Source Inflammation Research. 60(4):309-19, Apr 2011. Other ID Source: NLM. PMC3058501,