Description
EACH SOFT GELATIN CAPSULE CONTAINS
Omega-3 Fatty Acids -1000mg
Comprising
(Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) 460mg
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) 380mg
EPA and DHA are often called very-long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. The typical Western diet is rich in omega-6 fatty acids because of the abundance of linoleic acid present in corn, sunflower, and safflower oils.2 Conversely, omega-3 fatty acids account for only a small percentage of the daily dietary fat intake and are obtained from two main dietary sources—plants and fish.3,4 Plant oils from walnuts, flaxseed, and canola contain the omega-3 fatty acid ALA,5 which is a metabolic precursor of the very-long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA; however, the conversion from ALA to EPA and DHA in the body is inefficient.4 The most concentrated food source of EPA and DHA is fatty fish such as albacore tuna, salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring.
Following consumption, polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, are incorporated into cell membranes, where they modulate membrane protein function, cellular signaling, and gene expression. Dietary omega-3 fatty acids compete with omega-6 fatty acids for incorporation into cell membranes.4 When omega-6 fatty acids predominate in cell membranes, proinflammatory mediators such as thromboxanes, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes are produced via the cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase pathways. Conversely, the presence of omega-3 fatty acids promotes secretion of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins and less potent leukotrienes, resulting in a shift to a milieu of less inflammatory mediators2 These proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects represent the primary pharmacological difference between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
- reduction of triglyceride (TG) levels.
- attenuation of atherosclerotic plaques.
- exertion of antidysrhythmic, antithrombotic, and anti-inflammatory effects.
- lowering of systolic and diastolic blood pressures.
- improvement in endothelial function.
Potential Cardiovascular Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
