Influence of omega n-6/n-3 ratio on cardiovascular disease and nutritional interventions

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death globally. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2022, nearly 8 in 10 individuals who suffered from a stroke showed a history of hypertension, and over 60 % of those with Diabetes have hypertension with high triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, bad cholesterol). Both high LDL and Diabetes double the threat of CVD incidence, with the probability of all the previous risk factors being higher in adults who are overweight and obese. The n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio is critical to developing metabolic disorders that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The elaboration of the mechanisms by which n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids operate and convert to the essential fatty acids in the body will allow us to clearly understand the significance of the optimum ratio of the two. According to research, the human body can maintain optimum health with an intake ratio of n-6/n-3 of 5:1; however, the current ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA intake is 20:1 in the Western diet. As the intake of n-6 PUFA heavy diet increases, we notice an incline in the incidence rate of metabolic syndromes through activating the inflammatory pathways. Omega 6 and omega 3 compete for the same enzyme binding site, and depending on which is bound, the resulting essential fatty acid signals a cascade of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory factors. This review discusses the importance of the n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio in preventing, developing, and progressing cardiovascular disease.