Eicosapentaenoic Acid Based Therapies: Fish Facts and Stories

Abstract

The significant hypo-lipidemic, anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory features of EPA created extensive interest in preventive cardiology from the early 90s, since then several clinical studies were conducted to study the mechanisms and benefits of fish oil use. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are essential FAs therefore, they must be provided in diet or in the form of supplements. The supplements are low dose combinations of EPA and DHA have no significant benefits in terms of CVD prevention in clinical trials. However, a high dose Ethyl ester formulation of EPA has shown a 25% reduction of major adverse coronary events in the secondary prevention. Cardio-protective potential of EPA is attributed to its triglyceride lowering effect, reduction in inflammatory markers, improving coronary plaque stability, anti-platelet effect and improvements of over-all metabolic profile. We intend to provide preventive and therapeutic potentials of EPA in CVD, mechanisms of cardio protection, available evidence and future trails.