Pharmacological examination of the association between fatty acids and cardiovascular diseases

Although the relationship between fatty acids and cardiovascular diseases has been the subject of research for many years, it has not yet been fully elucidated. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of fatty acids in the physiopathology of cardiovascular diseases and the effect of drugs used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases on the fatty acid composition. For this purpose; a total of 314 participants, 98 women and 216 men, were divided into coronary artery disease, hypertension, heart failure and control groups. Plasma and erythrocyte cell membrane fatty acids of the participants were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. The disease groups were compared separately with the control group in terms of fatty acid composition. The effect of cardiovascular drugs on fatty acid composition was analyzed based on the medication data of participants. Pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid levels, total saturated fatty acids, total monounsaturated fatty acids and delta 6 and delta 9 desaturase activities were found to be higher in the disease groups than control group. Conversely, linoleic acid and docosahexaenoic acid levels, total polyunsaturated fatty acids and Omega 3 Index were lower than the control group. It was also observed that the level differences between the patient and control groups for each fatty acid were not constant. Therefore, it was interpreted that total or grouped fatty acid level expressions alone were not sufficient and the whole composition should be examined. In the analysis of the effects of drugs on fatty acids, it was determined that beta blocker, diuretic and platelet aggregation inhibitor drugs affect fatty acid composition. As a result, it was concluded that fatty acid composition changes were associated with coronary artery disease, hypertension and heart failure and cardiovascular drugs could change the fatty acid composition.