Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and hyperlipidaemias

Hyperlipidaemia is a multifaceted risk factor for cardiovascular disease, involving multiple aetiologies such as diet, lifestyle, and/or metabolic effects within the body. Dietary long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFA) have been shown to regulate key pathways involved in lipid metabolism. By this action, n-3PUFA favourably modulate blood lipids such as triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). The hypolipidaemic effects of dietary supplementation with n-3PUFA may be enhanced by combination drug or natural therapies and have the potential to reduce dependence on lipid-lowering drug therapy. The widespread modulatory effects on blood lipid profile are not only dose dependent, but also dependent on genetic make-up and gender differences. Further investigation into the modulatory effects of dietary n-3PUFA on blood lipids is warranted in order to optimize the efficacy of n-3PUFA therapy for the prevention and management of hyperlipidaemias. Future studies should investigate the influence of gender and genotypic variants on the effects of dietary n-3PUFA in order to optimize dietary strategies and recommendations to prevent and manage hyperlipidaemias.