Fish oil for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found abundantly in fish oil, are increasingly being used in the management of cardiovascular disease. It is clear that fish oil, in clinically used doses (typically 4 g/d of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) reduce high triglycerides. However, the role of omega-3 fatty acids in reducing mortality, sudden death, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and heart failure has not yet been established. This review will focus on the current clinical uses of fish oil and provide an update on their effects on triglycerides, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and arrhythmia. We will explore the dietary sources of fish oil as compared with drug therapy, and discuss the use of fish oil products in combination with other commonly used lipid-lowering agents. We will examine the underlying mechanism of fish oil's action on triglyceride reduction, plaque stability, and effect in diabetes, and review the newly discovered anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil. Finally, we will examine the limitations of current data and suggest recommendations for fish oil use.
Weitz
Daniel
D
Department of Medicine, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA. Weitz@nyumc.org
Weintraub
Howard
H
Fisher
Edward
E
Schwartzbard
Arthur Z
AZ
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D011345:Fenofibrate