This editorial provides an over of omega 3 fatty acid related studies conducted over the last 50 years. Omega 3 fatty acids modulate ion channel activity, cardiac myocyte contractility and Ca2+ cycling, and cell survival in response to ischemia or mechanical stress. The author states that for ALA to have a meaningful impact on long chain omega-3-PUFA levels, the amount of omega-6 PUFA that is consumed must be reduced and the amount of ALA consumed in the diet must be increased. ALA-rich plant products have been shown to significantly reduce the levels of biomarkers associated with risk of cardiovascular disease. The recommendation is made to conduct systematic studies to monitor the impact of diets that enhance ALA intake and promote its conversion to DHA. A quote of Dr. Bill Lands remains clinically relevant: “if you understand that food energy causes transient inflammatory insults and that omega-6s amplify that into chronic injury and omega-3s moderate it, then you can tell people that the take home message is: Eat more omega-3s; eat less omega-6s; eat fewer calories per meal and stop smoking. That’s it.”
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Editorial: This editorial provides an over of omega 3 fatty acid related studies conducted over the last 50 years. Omega 3 fatty acids modulate ion channel activity, cardiac myocyte contractility and Ca2+ cycling, and cell survival in response to ischemia or mechanical stress. The author states that for ALA to have a meaningful impact on long chain omega-3-PUFA levels, the amount of omega-6 PUFA that is consumed must be reduced and the amount of ALA consumed in the diet must be increased. ALA-rich plant products have been shown to significantly reduce the levels of biomarkers associated with risk of cardiovascular disease. The recommendation is made to conduct systematic studies to monitor the impact of diets that enhance ALA intake and promote its conversion to DHA. A quote of Dr. Bill Lands remains clinically relevant: “if you understand that food energy causes transient inflammatory insults and that omega-6s amplify that into chronic injury and omega-3s moderate it, then you can tell people that the take home message is: Eat more omega-3s; eat less omega-6s; eat fewer calories per meal and stop smoking. That’s it.”