De Caterina R, Gianetti J, Endres S
Laboratorio per lo Studio Della Trombosi e Dell' Aterosclerosi, Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica, C.N.R., PISA.
G Ital Cardiol. 1996 May;26(5):563-78.
n-3 Fatty acids (mostly eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid) continue to elicit research interest as dietary or pharmacological agents able to prevent or retard the progression of atherosclerosis and its clinical manifestations. Significant advances have occurred over the past five years in understanding their mechanism of action, including anti-atherogenic, anti-thrombotic and anti-arrhythmic properties. In parallel, clinical studies have continued the evaluation of these compounds in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Recent epidemiological studies have in general confirmed the hypothesis of a relevant anti-atherogenic effect, although this has not necessarily translated into clinical benefits in selected, relatively low-risk populations. Recent negative studies in trials of restenosis prevention after coronary angioplasty have tempered the initial enthusiasm as a possible preventive strategy in this subset, although reasons for discrepancies among past trials still await conclusive explanations. A recent dietary intervention trial in post-myocardial infarction patients has renewed the interest for alpha-linolenic acid, both as the metabolic precursor of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid, and as a fatty acid with direct specific properties.
n-3脂肪酸（主要是二十碳五烯酸和二十二碳六烯酸）作为能够预防或延缓动脉粥样硬化及其临床表现的膳食或药物制剂，继续引发研究兴趣。在过去五年中，人们在理解其作用机制方面取得了重大进展，包括抗动脉粥样硬化、抗血栓形成和抗心律失常特性。与此同时，临床研究一直在继续评估这些化合物在预防心血管疾病方面的效果。最近的流行病学研究总体上证实了相关抗动脉粥样硬化作用的假设，尽管这不一定能转化为特定的、相对低风险人群的临床益处。最近在冠状动脉血管成形术后预防再狭窄试验中的阴性研究，削弱了其作为该亚组可能预防策略的最初热情，尽管过去试验结果差异的原因仍有待确凿解释。最近一项针对心肌梗死后患者的饮食干预试验，重新引发了人们对α-亚麻酸的兴趣，它既是二十碳五烯酸和二十二碳六烯酸的代谢前体，也是具有直接特定特性的脂肪酸。
