POTENTIAL ADVERSE-EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM CONSUMPTION OF (N-3) FATTY-ACIDS

The potential therapeutic benefits of dietary supplementation with (n- 3) fatty acids (also called omega-3 [omega-3] fatty acids) have arouse d great interest, especially for the treatment of inflammatory disorde rs. Many products containing these fatty acids are marketed for admini stration to dogs or cats. These products seem to be very safe as curre ntly used; however, studies of the effects of their long-term administ ration to dogs and cats are lacking. This article discuses the potenti al adverse effects, extrapolated from studies in other animals and in humans. The major safety issues of long-term dietary intake of (n-3) f atty acids include increased tissue lipid peroxidation, a risk of blee ding, and immunoincompetence. Lipid peroxidation appears to pose less of a problem if antioxidants are given simultaneously, and there is no evidence that the (n-3) fatty acids contribute to clinically signific ant bleeding problems in dogs or cats. Clinical trials of the therapeu tic benefits of these fatty acids will doubtless yield more informatio n on the safety of these supplements.