title: Omega-3 fatty acids: their beneficial role in cardiovascular health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine evidence for the role of omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed was searched for articles on the role of omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease. Level I and II evidence indicates that omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial in improving cardiovascular outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids has declined by 80% during the last 100 years, while intake of omega-6 fatty acids has greatly increased. Omega-3 fatty acids are cardioprotective mainly due to beneficial effects on arrhythmias, atherosclerosis, inflammation, and thrombosis. There is also evidence that they improve endothelial function, lower blood pressure, and significantly lower triglycerides.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is good evidence in the literature that increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids improves cardiac outcomes. Physicians need to integrate dietary recommendations for consumption of omega-3 fatty acids into their usual cardiovascular care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice, Misericordia Hospital, Edmonton, Alta. gschwals@telus.net
authors.forename: Gerry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schwalfenberg
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3