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Fatty Acids

Written by: Shahdad Azmoon, MD

Date of Publication: April 14th, 2005

The n-6 and n-3 fatty acids (linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid) are essential nutrients for humans showing net beneficial affects in the incidence of coronary heart disease and lowering of LDL cholesterol (1, 2). There have been reports in Eskimos with high n-3 intake (fish & fish oils) with lower incidence rates of heart disease (3, 4). Actually it appears that the n-6 family of fatty acids have more effect on serum cholesterol and the n-3 family of fatty acids have more effect in lowering serum triglycerdies and decreasing platelet aggregation and serum fibrinogen (5, 6). There was one study that showed reduction in progression of coronary atherosclerosis, as well as increased regression of angiographically determined coronary atherosclerosis (7). n-3 fatty acids also have been reported to have anti-arrhythmic effects (8). There was one study where people where on high n-3 dietary regimen with a ~ 70% lowering of cardiovascular risk and mortality compared to the control group (9). Higher tissue levels of alpha-linolenic acids also appear to have an association with with lower risk of myocardial infarction (10).

References:

1. Mensink, RP, Katan, MB. Effect of dietary fatty acids on serum lipids and lipoproteins. A meta-analysis of 27 trials. Arterioscler Thromb 1992; 12:911

2. Din, JN, Newby, DE, Flapan, AD. Omega 3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease--fishing for a natural treatment. BMJ 2004; 328:30

3. Rissanen, T, Voutilainen, S, Nyyssonen, K, et al. Fish oil-derived fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acids, and the risk of acute coronary events. The Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor study. Circulation 2000; 102:2677

4. 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

5. Phillipson, BE, Rothrock, DW, Connor, WE, et al. Reduction of plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and apoproteins by dietary fish oils in patients with hypertriglyceridemia. N Engl J Med 1985; 312:1210

6. Lichtenstein, AH, Chobanian, AV. Effect of fish oil on atherogenesis in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits. Arteriosclerosis 1990; 10:597

7. von Schacky, C, Angerer, P, Kothny, W, et al. The effect of dietary n-3 fatty acids on coronary atherosclerosis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 1999; 130:554

coronary atherosclerosis

8. Siscovick, DS, Raghunathan, TE, King, I, et al. Dietary intake and cell membrane levels of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the risk of primary cardiac arrest. JAMA 1995; 274:1363

9. de Lorgeril, M, Renaud, S, Mamelle, N, et al. Mediterranean alpha-linolenic acid-rich diet in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. Lancet 1994; 343:1454

10. Baylin, A, Kabagambe, EK, Ascherio, A, et al. Adipose tissue alpha-linolenic acid and nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in Costa Rica. Circulation 2003; 107:1586

Remember:

1) Please follow up with your physician on a routine basis as needed.

2) Please follow directions when taking medications.

3) Please do not hesitate to see a physician when concerns arise regarding your health.

4) Your health should be your most important investment, take good care of it!

Sincerely,

Dr. Azmoon

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