Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol 9, Issue 4 344-351, Copyright © 1990 by American College of Nutrition
Polyunsaturates, endogenous eicosanoids, and cardiovascular disease
H. R. Knapp
Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-6602.
The role of dietary polyunsaturated fats in the prevention of human
vascular disease has not been defined, but population and intervention
studies have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) from marine lipids
may have a number of potentially beneficial effects. Eicosanoids are
extremely potent autacoids made from polyunsaturated fatty acids and have
effects on many vascular parameters, so that the physiological effects of
dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fats are often attributed to
alterations in endogenous eicosanoid production. Few studies have attempted
to correlate in vivo eicosanoid synthesis and functional effects during
such dietary maneuvers, however. This article reviews the relationship
between dietary polyunsaturates and endogenous eicosanoid synthesis in man,
with particular emphasis on recent studies of the effects of omega-3 FAs.
Data on omega-3 FAs and platelet-vascular interactions, blood pressure, and
vascular reactivity in human subjects are also summarized, with
interpretation of recent work addressing a number of controversial points.
A discussion of the significance and future direction of such
investigations concludes that further clinical trials in selected patient
groups are warranted.
