Association between serum omega-3 to omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio and cardiovascular events in a general Japanese population

Abstract

Inflammation is recognized to play an important role in the development of atherosclerotic diseases, such as coronary heart disease (CHD). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are important constituents of cell membrane phospholipids, and the phospholipids of inflammatory cells are rich in omega-6 PUFA arachidonic acid (AA), with low amounts of omega-3 PUFAs eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) [1]. However, AA acts as a source of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, whereas both EPA and DHA reduce AA-derived eicosanoids and pro-inflammatory cytokines and produce anti-inflammatory resolvins and protectins [1–3].