Hypertriglyceridemia and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Abstract

Recent studies by Bang and Dyerberg (1) have stimulated interest in the metabolism of omega-3 fatty acids and have suggested a link between the ingestion of these fatty acids in a diet and the low death rate from athersclerotic disease in Eskimos. In Japan, where fish consumption has traditionally been high, a concommitant shift in tissue lipid consumption favouring omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has been interpreted as causative of a relatively low incidence of cardiovascular disease (1). When analyzing Eskimo food consumption, it became clear that the consumption of omega-3 PUFA is much higher besides a 50% reduction of saturated fat and a relatively high content of monounsaturated fat of chain lengths of more than 18 carbon atoms- The total fat intake of the Eskimos is in the order of 40% of total calories per day, which is as high in Western diets. In addition, cholesterol intake averages almost 800 mg, which is even higher than that usually found in Western diets.