A new article has taken a fresh look at the benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Mark Tabaka, from Bristol Hospital in Connecticut, analyzed multiple observational studies on CAD patterns for an article in the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

He found that populations whose diets are rich in fish oils, such as the Inuit people from the Arctic regions of Alaska and Greenland, have significantly lower rates of heart disease than the general population.

The best natural sources of these essential acids include fatty fish such as mackerel and salmon and fish oil.

There are several theories to explain the mechanism by which PUFAs contribute to better cardiovascular health. They include antithrombosis, lower blood pressure and lower triglyceride levels.

However, the most likely mechanisms, according to the author, appear to be the antiarrhythmic and antiatherosclerotic properties of PUFAs.

The American Heart Association’s guideline regarding appropriate PUFA intake for persons with CAD is approximately one gram per day, Tabaka points out.

"Because obtaining this high level from dietary sources alone might be difficult to achieve, fish oil supplements are an option," he writes.

According to the American Heart Association, approximately 480,000 people die from CAD each year, and it is the leading cause of death in America.