title: A review of recent evidence in human studies of n-3 and n-6 PUFA intake on cardiovascular disease, cancer, and depressive disorders: does the ratio really matter?
abstract: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been considered of great interest for human health due to their potential anti-inflammatory action that may protect from a number of chronic-degenerative diseases with an inflammatory pathogenesis. This review aimed to report the most updated evidence of both n-3 and n-6 PUFAs effect on cardiovascular disease, cancer, and depression in humans. Attention has been also paid to those studies exploring the effects of the ratio intake. Results from pooled analyses of human studies reported a general positive effect of n-3 PUFAs intake on all outcomes considered. In contrast, the role of n-6 PUFAs on human health needs to be better assessed in order to clearly identify which compound exerts beneficial/harmful effects. Only a limited number of clinical studies considered the n-3:n-6 PUFAs ratio, rather reporting contrasting results. A number of limitations when considering the ratio between these two families of PUFAs have risen.
authors: a Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences, and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", Section of Hygiene and Public Health , University of Catania , Catania , Italy .
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Marventano
authors: b Department of Human Nutrition , Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow , Krakow , Poland .
authors: Paulina
authors: P
authors: Kolacz
authors: c Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Biochemistry , University of Catania , Catania , Italy , and.
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Castellano
authors: c Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Biochemistry , University of Catania , Catania , Italy , and.
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Galvano
authors: d Department of Internal Medicine , University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy.
authors: Silvio
authors: S
authors: Buscemi
authors: a Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences, and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", Section of Hygiene and Public Health , University of Catania , Catania , Italy .
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Mistretta
authors: a Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences, and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", Section of Hygiene and Public Health , University of Catania , Catania , Italy .
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Grosso
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6
keywords: Chronic diseases; inflammation; polyunsaturated fatty acids