New evidence for the cardiovascular benefits of long chain omega-3 fatty acids.

The role of long chain omega-3 fatty acids (LC n-3 FAs) as cardioprotective agents has become even clearer with the recent publication of the Japan EPA Lipid Intervention Study. This was the largest randomized controlled trial in the field, and it demonstrated that even in a population with one of the highest LC n-3 FA intakes in the world, the addition of eicosapentaenoic acid could reduce cardiac events. A comprehensive analysis of the risks and benefits of fish consumption was likewise recently published that should quiet any remaining fears that there are substantial risks to consuming oily fish such as salmon. A new meta-analysis has now demonstrated that reduced tissue/blood levels of LC n-3 FAs provide a better indication of increased cardiovascular risk than the n-6:n-3 ratio. Finally, a supplementation study in cardiac surgery patients has demonstrated both the time course and extent of incorporation of LC n-3 FAs into the human heart.