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Nutritional Health pp 221–246Cite as

Fish, n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, and Cardiovascular Disease

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Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world [1]. There are a number of well-established risk factors for CVD including smoking, hypertension, and family history [2]. In terms of nutrition, a diet high in fat, particularly saturated fat, has been shown to be associated with CVD incidence [3]. The observation that Greenland Eskimos (Inuit) have a low incidence of CVD despite a high saturated fat intake [4] has led to much scientific and public interest in the role of n-3 fatty acids found in fish and fish oils in the prevention and treatment of disease, and particularly CVD. In this chapter, the biochemistry and normal dietary intake of these compounds will be discussed, and the evidence linking them and their food sources with CVD reviewed. The safety of both fish oil supplements and fish will be assessed, and finally the potential effect of fish and fish oil consumption on other diseases considered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition and Metabolism Research Group, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Public Health, Institute of Clinical Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Block B, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BJ, UK

    Claire McEvoy MPhil, Ian S. Young MD & Jayne V. Woodside PhD

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  1. Claire McEvoy MPhil
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  2. Ian S. Young MD
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  3. Jayne V. Woodside PhD
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Correspondence to Claire McEvoy MPhil .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Science, Athabasca University, Athabasca, T9S 3A3, Alberta, Canada

    Norman J. Temple

  2. Department of Biology, Winona State University, Winona, 54603, Minnesota, USA

    Ted Wilson

  3. School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community H, University of Minnesota, 1300 South Second St., Minneapolis, 55454, USA

    David R. Jacobs, Jr.

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McEvoy, C., Young, I.S., Woodside, J.V. (2012). Fish, n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, and Cardiovascular Disease. In: Temple, N., Wilson, T., Jacobs, Jr., D. (eds) Nutritional Health. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-894-8_10

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