Nonpharmacologic treatment of hypertriglyceridemia: Focus on fish oils

Early studies in Greenland Eskimos stimulated interest in evaluating the ef fect of Omega-3 fatty acids on coronary artery disease. Subsequent studies showed a significant decrease in triglyceride levels in patients receiving high doses of fish oil containing DHA and EPA. Slight increases in LDL were also observed in patients receiving fish oil supplements. These studies ha ve also shown a dose-response effect which persists as long as supplementat ion continues. Later trials, specifically the Diet and Reinfarction Trial a nd the Indian Experiment of Infarct Survival, have:demonstrated a reduction in cardiac death rates and in the incidence of cardiac symptoms in patient s receiving fish oil.