title: Role of n-3 fatty acids in prevention of disease complications in patients with HIV.
abstract: Hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance have been seen in patients with HIV. Beneficial effects of the n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been reported for these conditions. One study of n-3 fatty acid supplementation in patients with HIV reported a decrease in serum triglyceride levels. These marine fatty acids appear to be working at a number of sites to achieve an improvement in lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. There is disagreement about the amount of n-3 fatty acids needed to achieve different effects and about the optimal ratio of dietary n-6 and n-3 fatty acids.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition/Infection Unit, Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA. margo.woods@tufts.edu
authors.forename: Margo N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid