70th Annual Meeting of the Medical Society of Toho University Professor Special Lecture Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and human health: Protective role in cardiovascular disease

The findings of an epidemiological study of Danish Greenland Inuit indicated that fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids) was important in preventing atherosclerotic disease. After that landmark research, large-scale epidemiological studies, clinical outcomes trials, and meta-analyses examined the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids as part of a diet rich in fatty acids and found statistically significant relative reductions in cardiovascular risk among people consuming omega-3 fatty acids. This article reviews omega-3 studies during the last 50 years and identifies issues relevant to future studies of cardiovascular risk.