title: Cardioprotective mechanism of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
abstract: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, are widely regarded as cardioprotective. Several large-scale, randomized clinical trials have shown that dietary intake of omega-3 PUFAs improves the prognosis of patients with symptomatic heart failure or recent myocardial infarction. Therefore, dietary consumption of omega-3 PUFA is recommended in international guidelines for the general population to prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the precise mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective effects of omega-3 PUFAs are not fully understood. Omega-3 PUFAs can be incorporated into the phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes and can affect membrane fluidity, lipid microdomain formation, and signaling across membranes. Omega-3 PUFAs also modulate the function of membrane ion channels, such as Na and L-type Ca channels, to prevent lethal arrhythmias. Moreover, omega-3 PUFAs also prevent the conversion of arachidonic acid into pro-inflammatory eicosanoids by serving as an alternative substrate for cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase, resulting in the production of less potent products. In addition, a number of enzymatically oxygenated metabolites derived from omega-3 PUFAs were recently identified as anti-inflammatory mediators. These omega-3 metabolites may contribute to the beneficial effects against CVDs that are attributed to omega-3 PUFAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: jinendo@keio.jp.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Metabolomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan; Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Kanagawa, Japan. Electronic address: makoto.arita@riken.jp.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arita
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066253:Vascular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
keywords: 18-Hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid; Anti-inflammation; Cardiovascular disease; Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; Specialized proresolving mediators