PREVENTING AND MANAGING ATHEROSCLEROSIS: THE ROLE OF OMEGA-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS (REVIEW)
Atherosclerosis, which is a pathogenetic substrate for many cardiovascular diseases, is the result of a complex interaction between the blood cholesterol and the cellular components of blood vessel walls. High blood cholesterol, male gender, age, diabetes, hypertension, smoking and poor diet are the risk factors that cause progression of atherosclerotic diseases and theirs complications, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, and myocardial infarction. Prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic diseases are usually based on trying to reduce the risk factors for atherosclerosis. Prophylaxis and therapy aimed to cure the risk factors, remains the main form of treatment this disease. Nowadays, there are many studies concerned about discovering a new nutritional factors of the atherosclerosis. The use of drugs of highly purified omega-3 fatty acids in combination with a “Mediterranean” diet could be an effective way to treat and prevent the atherosclerosis diseases, as well as any cardiovascular others.