Abstract
Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory chronic disease affecting arterial vessels and leading to vascular diseases, such as stroke and myocardial infarction. The relationship between atherosclerosis and risk of neurodegeneration has been established, in particular with vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). Systemic atherosclerosis increases the risk of VCID by inducing cerebral infarction, or through systemic or local inflammatory factors that underlie both atherosclerosis and cognition. Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are involved in inflammatory processes, but with opposite roles. Specifically, omega-3 PUFAs exert anti-inflammatory properties by competing with omega-6 PUFAs and displacing arachidonic acid in membrane phospholipids, decreasing the production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. Experimental studies and some clinical trials have demonstrated that omega-3 PUFA supplementation may reduce the risk of different phenotypes of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. This review describes the link between atherosclerosis, VCID and inflammation, as well as how omega-3 PUFA supplementation may be useful to prevent and treat inflammatory-related diseases.
Highlights
Introduction to Omega3 and Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)An Overview of Their Metabolic PathwaysPolyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are fatty acids with two or more double bonds in their carbon chain
Omega-3 PUFAs may induce an early prevention by acting at different levels of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) pathogenesis, including reducing vascular inflammation, and decreasing noxious molecular pathways activation leading to accumulation of misfolded proteins in the neurons
The role of omega-6 PUFAs in triggering systemic inflammation remains controversial, growing evidence highlights the importance of increasing the absolute intake of omega-3 PUFAs in order to reduce CV risk
Summary
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are fatty acids with two or more double bonds in their carbon chain. Long-chain omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs derive from alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3 ω-3) and linoleic acid (LA, 18:2 ω-6), respectively. ALAdifferent and synthesize different verymore long-chain and more unsaturated eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 ω-3), acid (DPA, 22:5 ω-3). PUFAs obtained through different dietary sources (cod liver oil, oily fish, algal oils). PUFA can be directly obtained through different dietary sources (cod liver oil, oily fish, algal oils) [5]. The omega-6 PUFA arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4 ω-6) can either be obtained from some dietary sourcesmeat, egg yolk and dairy products) or beproducts) synthesized from the omega-6from precursor. Delta-5 and delta-6 desaturases (encoded by FADS1 and FADS2 genes, respectively) are the rate- for metabolism, and the main determinants of PUFA levels [9].of PUFA levels [9]
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