In a recent study, researchers discovered that omega-3 fatty acids are critical in preventing inflammation in blood vessels and lowering the risk of atherosclerosis. 

The findings of this study were published in the journal 'The Journal of Clinical Investigation.'

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world and is a major public health issue in many countries. Atherosclerosis is characterized by chronic inflammation of the blood vessels in the heart and arteries. Resolvins are stop signals that normally control inflammation. They turn off the inflammation and stimulate tissue healing and repair, which is referred to as the resolution of the inflammation process. Resolvins are formed from omega-3 fatty acids and bind to and activate a receptor known as GPR32, which is found on the surface of the cell.

According to the study's first author Hildur Arnardottir, assistant professor at the Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, "we've discovered that this receptor is dysregulated in atherosclerosis, indicating a disruption in the body's natural healing processes."

It is hoped that this discovery will open the door to completely new approaches to treating and preventing atherosclerosis, such as halting inflammation in the blood vessels while also activating the body's healing processes with the help of omega-3 fatty acids, among other things.

According to the findings of the new study, signaling through the receptor actively reduced inflammation in atherosclerotic blood vessels while also stimulating healing. The atherosclerotic plaque has been studied by the researchers, who have also developed a new experimental model that contains an overexpressed GPR32 receptor. The GPR32 receptor inhibited atherosclerosis and inflammation in the blood vessels, and resolvins, which activate the GPR32 receptor, increased the effectiveness of the treatment.

According to the study's final author, Magnus Back, senior consultant cardiologist and professor at the Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, "we will now be studying the mechanisms behind the failed management of inflammation in the blood vessels as well as how omega-3 mediated stop signals can be used to treat atherosclerosis."

The Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, King Gustaf V and Queen Victoria's Foundation of Freemasons, and the Region of Stockholm provided the majority of the funding for the study. There have been no reported conflicts of interest in this matter.