title: Omega-3 fatty acids: role in cardiovascular health and disease.
abstract: Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, play an important role in cardiovascular health and disease. Clinical trials provide substantial evidence to support current dietary recommendations for omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease management. The cardioprotective benefits of omega-3 fatty acids may be attributed to multiple physiological effects on lipids, blood pressure, vascular function, cardiac rhythms, platelet function, and inflammatory responses. The metabolism of omega-3 fatty acids, physiological effects, and clinical considerations with current dietary recommendations and sources of omega-3 fatty acids are presented.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Physiological Nursing, University of California-San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143-0610, USA. marguerite.engler@nursing.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Marguerite M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Engler
authors.forename: Mary B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Engler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004346:Drug Information Services; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D020407:Internet; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3