Marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and coronary heart disease

In this paper, we will give an overview of the background for the possible effects of long-chain marine n-3 (synonomously called omega-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in coronary heart disease (CHD) with focus on recent findings. In a forthcoming paper [Schmidt EB, Arnesen H, Christensen JH, Rasmussen LH, Kristensen SD, De Caterina R, Marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and coronary heart disease: Part II. Clinical trials and recommendations. Thromb Res (in press)], we will focus on the clinical trial data, current recommendations and suggest trials to further study the role of marine n-3 PUFA in the prevention and treatment of CHD.