title: Clinical pharmacology of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: non-lipidic metabolic and hemodynamic effects in human patients.
abstract: A high dietary intake of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, is associated with a reduced incidence of coronary events. Supplementation with pharmacological doses of the same may improve survival in patients with previous myocardial infarction and established heart failure. Such protective effects may be explained by the action of n-3 PUFA on systemic inflammation, hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, thrombosis, cardiac arrhythmias, heart rate variability and atherosclerotic plaque instability, which are involved in the pathogenesis of these clinical conditions. In this short paper we will review the evidence in support of these pleiotropic effects of n-3 fatty acids.
authors: Nutrition Foundation of Italy and University of Milan, Milan, Italy. marangoni@nutrition-foundation.it
authors: Franca
authors: F
authors: Marangoni
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Poli
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D018836:Inflammation Mediators
keywords: Endothelial function; Inflammation; Plaque stability; n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids