FIGURE 1 .

Development of coronary heart disease and potential sites of action of (n-3) fatty acids. At typical dietary doses (up to 1 g/d), the likely major site of action is the final pathway of ischemia-related cardiac arrhythmia (dotted circle), reducing the risk of cardiac death from fatal heart attack or sudden death. More modest effects on other pathways, such as atherosclerosis and plaque stability, may also reduce the risk of nonfatal myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) and acute coronary syndrome to a smaller extent.