n-3 PUFAs in the Prevention and Cure of Inflammatory, Degenerative, and Neoplastic Diseases

The possibility of health benefits associated with dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) has been described for several chronic conditions, including cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and neoplastic diseases. A large body of evidence has emerged over the past years to show the critical role played by inflammation in the pathogenesis of these diseases, previously not considered inflammation related. Therefore, it has been recently hypothesized that ω-3 PUFAs’ effects may be related, at least in part, to their direct anti-inflammatory activity as well as to that of their oxygenated metabolites (17-HDHA, 18-HEPE, resolvins, and protectins). In this special issue G. Calviello and collaborators summarize and comprehensively discuss the current knowledge regarding the modulating effects of ω-3 PUFAs on the production of inflammatory cytokines and proresolving or protective lipid mediators in the context of inflammatory, metabolic, neurodegenerative, and neoplastic diseases.