Omega-3 fatty acids prevent sudden death in coronary heart disease, although other protective benefits have yet to be identified. This paper demonstrated for the first time that omega-3 fatty acids prevent fibrosis by blocking activation of fibroblasts, and in so doing, prevent diastolic dysfunction in a mouse model of hypertensive heart disease. Clinically, our findings suggest that omega-3 fatty acids could be useful in preventing fibrosis in patients with hypertensive heart disease and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, a clinical syndrome for which there is no proven therapy.
Chen J, Shearer GC, Chen Q, Healy CL, Beyer AJ, Nareddy VB, Gerdes AM, Harris WS, O'Connell TD, Wang D. Circulation 2011 Feb 15;123(6):584-93