title: Recent findings of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3 PUFAs) on atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD) contrasting studies in Western countries to Japan.
abstract: Recent long-term randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3 PUFAs) on coronary heart disease (CHD) among high-risk patients conducted in Western countries all failed to show their clinical benefits. In striking contrast, an RCT of LCn-3 PUFAs on CHD conducted in Japan, which is a combination of secondary and primary prevention, showed a significant 19% reduction. Potential reasons for this discrepancy are large differences in doses of LCn-3 PUFAs administered (300-900 mg/day in Western countries vs. 1800 mg/day in Japan) and background dietary intake of LCn-3 PUFAs (<300 mg/day in Western countries vs. >1000 mg/day in Japan). These observations suggest that higher doses of LCn-3 PUFAs than examined in RCTs in Western countries may be cardio-protective. Atherosclerosis is the major underlying cause of CHD. Recent observational studies and an RCT of LCn-3 PUFAs on atherosclerosis in Japan show that LCn-3 PUFAs are anti-atherogenic. In this brief review, we focus on recent epidemiological and clinical findings of LCn-3 PUFAs on atherosclerosis and CHD, contrasting studies in Western countries to those in Japan. We also discuss mechanisms of high-dose LCn-3 PUFAs on atherosclerosis.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Electronic address: akira@pitt.edu.
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Sekikawa
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VA.
authors: Margaret F
authors: MF
authors: Doyle
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors: Lewis H
authors: LH
authors: Kuller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019049:Developed Countries; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3