Beneficial Actions of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Cardiovascular Diseases: But, How and Why?

Abstract

Omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and to a limited extent -6 fatty acids: arachidonic acid (AA), -linolenic acid (GLA) and dihomo-GLA (DGLA), prevent cardiovascular disease, thrombosis and atherosclerosis, reduce cardiac arrhythmias, lower plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, lower high blood pressure and improve endothelial function. These beneficial actions of the fatty acids could be attributed to their ability to augment endothelial nitric oxide generation, inhibit HMG-CoA reductase and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activities, block the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and modulate telomerase activity. AA, EPA, and DHA form precursors to anti-inflammatory molecules: lipoxins and resolvins that help in wound healing, inhibit the actions of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, and suppress the production of free radicals and enhance nitric oxide (NO) generation. In addition, these fatty acids react with NO and NO-derived reactive nitrogen species to form nitroalkene derivative of fatty acids called as nitrolipids. Nitrolipids serve as potent ligands for peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs), inhibit platelet activation through elevation of cyclic AMP levels; suppress superoxide generation, degranulation, and integrin expression by human neutrophils, and induce vasorelaxation in a concentration dependent manner by releasing NO. Nitrolipids are formed at the sites of inflammation in significant amounts and increased by oxidative inflammatory reactions. Furthermore, -3 and -6 fatty acids interact with each other to enhance the formation of prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ), prostacyclin (PGI 2 ), and PGI 3 , which are potent platelet anti-aggregators and vasodilators. Thus, GLA, DGLA, AA, EPA, and DHA when present in optimum amounts in the tissues, especially in endothelial cells, myocardium, platelets, and neutrophils, may aid in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Production of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrates: A review

“…The latest overview found about the effect of omega-3 fatty acids in rheumatoid arthritis was published in 1998 (Ariza-Ariza, MestanzaPeralta, & Cardiel, 1998) although there is a more recent one (2006) not published in English (Stancík, Rovenský, & Stančíková, 2006). Several recent reviews on cardiovascular effects have also been recently published (Biscione, Pignalberi, Totteri, Messina, & Altamura, 2007;Tziomalos, Athyros, & Mikhailidis, 2007;vonSchacky & Harris, 2007;Das, 2008). vonSchacky and Harris (2007) proposed the omega-3 index (percentage of EPA + DHA of total fatty acids in red blood cells) as a risk factor for sudden cardiac death and concluded that this index should be higher than 8%.…”

Essential fatty acids and their metabolites in the context of hypertension

“…Commentary of adiponectin (because hypertensives have peripheral insulin resistance and are more prone to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome 32 ); (g) depressed anti-oxidant capacity; (h) enhanced sympathetic tone (catecholamines have pro-inflammatory actions 33 ) and (i) low acetylcholine levels in the brain and leukocytes (because acetylcholine is an anti-inflammatory molecule, it enhances NO generation and its levels are enhanced by AA/EPA/DHA supplementation 34,35 ). Some of the suggested studies could be performed in human beings using peripheral leukocytes and macrophages because they contain the complete intracellular machinery for the generation, release and metabolism of dietary essential fatty acids, lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, maresins, nitrolipids, catecholamines, acetylcholine and serotonin, as well as the renin-angiotensin system and anti-oxidants.…”

Nutritional Composition of Fatty Acids and Amino Acids of the Fermented <i>Scomberomorus tritor</i> in Benin

“…Fatty acids in general and essential fatty acids in particular are very important to the body and are involved in the prevention of certain diseases. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated the importance of ω-3 fatty acids in human health and have shown the relationship between a ω-3 enriched diet and the prevention of certain diseases such as cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction [26][27][28], intestinal disease [29], treatment and prevention of mental illness [30], prevention of several types of cancer [24,31] or bronchial asthma [32]. Subsequently, numerous epidemiological and clinical studies have focused on the effect of ω-3 PUFAs, in particular EPA and DHA, on human health and the mechanism by which this effect occurs.…”