Review Article
The Role of Long-Chained Marine N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Cardiovascular Disease
Table 1
Mechanisms and biochemical effects of marine PUFA.
| Anti-inflammatory effects | | (i) Competition with AA for Cox/lipooxygenase sites | | (ii) Increase of anti-inflammatory eicosanoids | | (iii) Reduction of TNFα, IL-1, IL-6 | | (iv) Reduction of nuclear factor κB (NF- κB) activation | |
| Vascular effects | | (i) Increased vagal tone | | (ii) Improved endothelial function | | (iii) Increase of NO | | (iv) Reduction of Hcy, VCAM-1, ELAM-1, and ICAM-1 | | (v) Reduction of ET-1 | |
| Antithrombotic effects | | (i) Reduced platelet aggregation via reduction in TXA2 | | (ii) Increased bleeding time (high doses) | |
| Triglyceride-lowering effect | |
| Antiarrhythmic effects | | (i) Increased membrane stabilization, reduced automaticity, and increased refractory period | | (ii) Increased EPA : AA ratio in plasma membrane of cardiac myocytes | | (iii) Reduced production of proarrhythmic eicosanoids | | (iv) Reduced agonist affinity of beta-receptors → reduced heart rate (HR), increased HR variability | | (v) Inhibition of the L-type calcium current | | (vi) Inhibition of fast voltage-dependent Na+ channels | |
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