[Antiatherogenic action of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids]

Recently, atherosclerosis has become a matter of great concern because of a rapid increase of aged people. It has been widely known that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, rich in marine fish oil, have an antiatherogenic action. The mechanism is ascribed to its action on serum lipids, functions of the platelets, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and macrophages, prostaglandin and leukotriene metabolism, growth factor and cytokine production, EDRF production, blood pressure, etc. In this paper the basic and clinical evidences concerning the effects of fish oil on these multifactors, which are deeply involved in the development of atherosclerosis are reviewed.