Statins and omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of dyslipidemia and coronary heart disease.
Dyslipidemia including hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia often associated with low levels of HDL-cholesterol is a common and important cluster of risk factors for coronary heart disease. Dyslipidemia is also commonly associated with hypertension, hyperinsulinemia and central obesity in the metabolic syndrome. Lifestyle adjustments including increased physical activity and dietary modifications leading to weight reduction are important first steps in the prevention of coronary heart disease in patients with such abnormalities in lipid metabolism. When these adjustments are insufficient to achieve desirable results, the combined treatment with statins and omega-3 fatty acids is an efficient treatment alternative. Both statins and omega-3 fatty acids have documented their effects against coronary heart disease (CHD) both in primary and secondary prevention trials. The mechanisms involved are only partly explained, however, the synergistic effects of statins and omega-3 fatty acids significantly reduce the risk for CHD in patients with dyslipidemia.
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Department of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway.
D000069059:Atorvastatin; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015444:Exercise; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D011758:Pyrroles; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D019821:Simvastatin; C405603:Omacor