Essential Fatty Acids as Biomedicines in Cardiac Health

Abstract

The destructive impact of cardiovascular diseases on health, including heart failure, peripheral artery disease, atherosclerosis, stroke, and other cardiac pathological conditions, positions these health conditions as leading causes of increased global mortality rates, thereby impacting the human quality of life. The considerable changes in modern lifestyles, including the increase in food intake and the change in eating habits, will unavoidably lead to an unbalanced consumption of essential fatty acids, with a direct effect on cardiovascular health problems. In the last decade, essential fatty acids have become the main focus of scientific research in medical fields aiming to establish their impact for preventing cardiovascular diseases and the associated risk factors. Specifically, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as omega 3 fatty acids, and monounsaturated fatty acids from various sources are mentioned in the literature as having a cardio-protective role, due to various biological mechanisms that are still to be clarified. This review aims to describe the major biological mechanisms of how diets rich in essential fatty acids, or simply essential fatty acid administration, could have anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, anti-arrhythmic, antithrombotic, antioxidant, and anti-atherogenic effects. This review describes findings originating from clinical studies in which dietary sources of FAs were tested for their role in mitigating the impact of heart disorders in human health.

Association of dietary patterns and components with atherosclerosis risk biomarkers in familial hypercholesterolemia

“…Since the polyunsaturated molecules of phospholipids present a cis configuration and occupy more space in the lipoprotein, there is a restriction in the available volume of the LDL particle to transport cholesterol. In addition, PUFA stimulate the degradation of ApoB via presecretory proteolysis, which reduces its secretion and thus its availability for the production of VLDL [16,17].…”

Linum usitatissimum oil Fraction Reverse Cardiac Remodeling at Molecular level: Suppressing miRNA-29b and miRNA 1 genes in Isoproterenol In vivo Model

“…In the recent decade, essential fatty acids (EFAs) have become the primary focus of scienti c research with substantial research, as a crucial metabolite in the eld of cardiac medicine [44]. Despite this progress, the molecular mechanisms of action, and their exact physiological ability that prevents associated cardiovascular diseases are still unanswered [45].…”

Erythrocytes as Messengers for Information and Energy Exchange between Cells

“…Similar results are found across many studies, irrespective of whether plasma or erythrocyte levels are measured. One reason for less clear health promotion of omega-6 fatty acids is that the omega-6 arachidonic acid is a precursor for pro-inflammatory prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes [143], collectively called eicosanoids. Omega-3 fatty acids on the other hand have been reported to reduce signaling through the pro-inflammatory toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) [144].…”