title: alpha-Linolenic acid: a preventive in secondary coronary events?
abstract: In a 5-year study of survivors of a first myocardial infarction, the effect of an alpha-linolenic acid-enriched diet (experimental) was compared with the prudent diet of the American Heart Association (control) in prevention of secondary coronary events. After a mean follow-up of 27 months, there were 5 nonfatal myocardial infarctions and 3 cardiac deaths in the experimental group versus 17 nonfatal myocardial infarctions and 16 cardiac deaths in the control group. Overall mortality was 20 in the control and 8 in the experimental group. An alpha-linolenic acid-enriched diet appears to be effective in secondary prevention of coronary events, but a follow-up trial with a larger sample size is suggested.
mesh_terms: D000572:American Heart Association; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004032:Diet; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014481:United States; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid