Showing papers by "Duo Li published in 2003"

Omega-3 fatty acids and non-communicable diseases.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To review the relation between dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA) and non-communicable diseases. METHOD Data were collected from scientific journals and conference publications, MEDLINE (1979 - 2002) and current content which included 68 prospective, cross-sectional, case control and dietary-intervention studies. Scientific paper selections were based on the association between omega-3 PUFA and non-communicable diseases. RESULTS omega-3 PUFA has beneficial effects on increasing heart rate variability, decreasing the risk of stroke, reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, insulin resistance and glucose metabolism. Long chain omega-3 PUFA has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. omega-3 PUFA has also been reported to have a beneficial effect on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia, and may be effective in managing depression in adults. CONCLUSIONS Results from epidemiological and dietary intervention studies have shown that omega-3 PUFA represent powerfully a class of bioactive compounds and that dietary intake of omega-3 PUFA plays a critical role in human health in relation to non-communicable diseases.