Omega-3 and cardiovascular prevention – is this still a choice?

There is currently growing attention being paid to the role of elevated triglycerides (TGs) as important mediators of residual atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. This role is supported by genetic studies and by the persistent residual risk of ASCVD, even after intensive statin therapy. Although TG lowering drugs have shown conflicting results when tested in cardiovascular outcome trials, data from the REDUCE-IT study with the ethyl ester of ω-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have revived hope in this area of research. The aim of the present review is to critically discuss the most recent large trials with ω-3 fatty acids (FAs) trying to elucidate mechanistic and trial-related differences, as in the case of REDUCE-IT and STRENGTH studies. The ω-3 FAs may lower cardiovascular risk through a number of pleiotropic mechanisms, e.g., by lowering blood pressure, by mediating antithrombotic effects, by providing precursors for the synthesis of specialized proresolving mediators that can inhibit inflammation or by modulating the lipid rafts enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids. In conclusion, in a field fraught with uncertainties, the ω-3 FAs and especially high dose icosapent ethyl (the ethyl ester of EPA) are at present a most valuable therapeutic option to reduce the ASCVD risk.