?-3 PUFA as Agents for Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerosis - Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease that involves damage to the endothelium of the
arteries, as well as the formation of atheroma plaques. The risk factors for atherosclerosis are unknown. However, high levels of LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) and low levels of HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol in the blood can encourage this disease. It has also been reported that patients with diabetes, hypertension and obesity may be more susceptible to atherosclerosis. The ?-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential to human beings and are taken at concentrations of about 3 g day-1 for atherosclerosis prevention and treatment. Meta-analysis studies have been used to evaluate the effect of PUFA in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and have proven to be an effective treatment of the disease, whereas in the case of prevention the results are inconclusive. This has led to the development of in vivo methods to quantify the effect of PUFA in the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis. The two most important groups of studies that are addressed in this review article are related to 1) the oxoderivatives of ?-3 PUFA and specialized pro-resolving mediators, and 2) the balance of ?-3 PUFA versus ?-6 PUFA and saturated fatty acids.