Therapeutic potential of marine n-3 fatty acids in CABG patients

Dietary intake of marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) has beneficial effects in various cardiac disorders. Few studies have, however, investigated the therapeutic potential of n-3 PUFA in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Five heterogeneous randomized studies on n-3 PUFA for prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation have yielded conflicting results. Increased venous graft patency rates following CABG were seen in another study in patients treated with n-3 PUFA. Finally, supplements with n-3 PUFA postoperatively have been associated with a lower risk of repeat revascularization and lower mortality in patients with poor ventricular function. Data are still few, and more studies are needed to clarify the therapeutic potential of n-3 PUFA in patients undergoing CABG.