Pediatrics and Neonatology Unit, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, 29121 Piacenza, Italy.
Società Italiana di Nutrizione Pediatrica, 20126 Milan, Italy.
Nutrients. 2023 Mar 29;15(7):1661. doi: 10.3390/nu15071661.
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are semi-essential fatty acids widely studied in adult subjects for their healthy-heart effects, especially on secondary prevention in patients who already experienced a cardiac event. LCPUFAs consumption is safe, without adverse effects, and they are usually well-tolerated; they can be taken either in foods or as nutritional supplements. LCPUFAs' positive effect on global health has been worldwide recognized also for pediatric patients. In childhood and adolescence, research has mainly focused on LCPUFAs' effects on neurodevelopment, brain and visual functions and on maternal-fetal medicine, yet their cardiovascular effects in childhood are still understudied. Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial process that starts even before birth and progresses throughout life; thus, cardiovascular prevention is advisable and effective from the very first years of life. Nutritional and lifestyle interventions are the main factors that can interfere with atherosclerosis in childhood, and the consumption of specific nutrients, such as LCPUFAs, can enhance positive nutritional effects. The aim of our narrative review is to analyze the effect of LCPUFAs on cardiovascular risk factors and on cardiovascular risk prevention in developmental age, focusing on specific conditions such as weight excess and dyslipidemia.
长链多不饱和脂肪酸（LCPUFAs）是半必需脂肪酸，在成人中广泛研究其对心脏健康的影响，特别是对已经经历心脏事件的患者的二级预防。LCPUFAs 的摄入是安全的，没有不良反应，并且通常耐受性良好；它们可以通过食物或营养补充剂摄入。LCPUFAs 对全球健康的积极影响也已得到全世界儿科患者的认可。在儿童和青少年时期，研究主要集中在 LCPUFAs 对神经发育、大脑和视觉功能以及母婴医学的影响上，但它们在儿童时期的心血管影响仍在研究之中。动脉粥样硬化是一个多因素的过程，甚至在出生前就开始，并贯穿人的一生；因此，心血管预防从生命的最初几年开始就是合理且有效的。营养和生活方式的干预是可以干预儿童期动脉粥样硬化的主要因素，而特定营养素的摄入，如 LCPUFAs，可以增强积极的营养作用。我们的叙述性综述旨在分析 LCPUFAs 对心血管危险因素的影响，以及在发育年龄阶段对心血管风险的预防作用，重点关注体重超重和血脂异常等特定情况。
