ABSTRACT
Several trials have been conducted to examine the eff ects of n-3 PUFA in patients with IHD (Arnesen 2001). Th e eff ects of n-3 PUFA on the course of coronary atherosclerosis in angiographically proven coronary artery disease have been investigated in two randomized controlled trial (RCT). In the Study on Prevention of Coronary Atherosclerosis with Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acids (SCIMO), a large daily dose of 6 g of n-3 PUFA was given for 3 mon followed by a daily dose of 3 g n-3 PUFA for 21 mon. Quantitative coronary angiographies were performed before and aft er supplementation, and a benefi cial but modest eff ect on the course of coronary atherosclerosis was observed in patients allocated to n-3 PUFA compared to patients given placebo. Th us, more coronary lesions showed regression in the n-3 PUFA group, while no diff erences were seen in the number of lesions in which progression was observed between the two groups. An earlier but smaller RCT study using a similar design did not fi nd any signifi cant eff ect of 6.0 g of n-3 PUFA given for 28 mon. Restenosis aft er coronary intervention may result from thrombosis, from intimal hyperplasia and in part from atherosclerosis. Prevention of restenosis aft er coronary interventions should be mentioned in this context as interventions with high doses of n-3 PUFA have been attempted to reduce restenosis aft er coronary artery bypass graft ing (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). One large trial investigated the eff ect of a high dose of n-3 PUFA on the occlusion of bypass graft s aft er CABG. Venous graft occlusion was reduced by 23% in the patients receiving n-3 PUFA compared to controls. Likewise, in the pre-stent era of PCI, the prevalence of restenoses aft er PCI was very high, and larger RCT trials have been performed and none have revealed any eff ect on restenosis of high doses of 5.1-8.0 g/day n-3 PUFA (Arnesen 2001). Studies in patients treated with coronary stents and n-3 PUFA have yet not been published.
