Multiple Effects of Omega-3 P.U.F.A. on Some Important Life Processes

Abstract

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential compounds for health. They play a crucial role to avoid and/or delay many cardiovascular alterations such as inflammation, arrhythmic effect, endothelial dysfunction, thrombosis, etc.. Their supplementation can induce a reduction of post-prandial dysmetabolic “spikes”, responsible for a rapid progression of atherosclerosis. Daily giving of PUFA omega-3, by lowering triglycerides serum levels, may induce a slowing of the age-dependent atherosclerosis’ progression reducing the cardiovascular risk. On the other hand, the high serum concentration of Poly-Unsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) omega-3 is associated with prolonged survival in patients mediated by telomeres’ lenthening. In fact, an inverse relationship between baseline blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids and the lenght of telomeres was demonstrated. An anti-depressant effect of PUFA omega-3, for its action on neuronal membrane stability was also evidenced. In addition, omega-3 PUFA seems to exert a positive effect on squamous cells carcinoma, even though they can increase the cancer prostate growth. Thus, besides several positive effects of high serum levels of PUFA omega-3 concentration, their detrimental action on prostate cancer growth must be considered too.