Last update:
29-Sep-2000

Arch Hellen Med, 17(1), January-February 2000, 26-34

REVIEW

The role of polyunsaturated fatty acids
in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders

E.J. GIAMARELLOS-BOURBOULIS,¹ A. DIONYSSIOU-ASTERIOU^2
11st Department of Propedeutic Medicine,
²Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are divided into n-6, found in plant oils and n-3, found in fish oils. Linoleic acid, γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid are representatives of the n-6 series whereas α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid belong to the n-3 series. The n-3 PUFAs antagonize the n-6 PUFAs for incorporation into the cell membrane phospholipids, and arachidonic acid is the main precursor of the biosynthesis of eicosanoids. The introduction of a diet rich in n-3 PUFAs for patients with coronary heart disease reduces their risk of sudden fatal arrhythmias, and particularly of ventricular fibrillation, by blocking the Na+ and Ca2+ channels of the myocardial cell. Such a diet also discourages coronary vessel thrombosis and reduces postprandial hypertriglyceridemia and vascular hypertension. The trans analogues of the n-3 PUFAs exert the opposite effect.

Key words: Arrhythmias, Hemostasis, Hyperlipidemia, Polyunsaturated fatty acids.