Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2024; 121(3): e20240208

Fatty Acids Intake in Cardiovascular Prevention: The Incessant Search for Adequacy

Elisa Maia dos Santos , Grazielle Vilas Bôas Huguenin

DOI: 10.36660/abc.20240208i

This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "Adequacy of Fatty Acids Consumption Among Individuals in Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention".

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are currently the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Several risk factors contribute to its development and among the modifiable ones, the main ones are related to lifestyle behaviors, such as smoking, physical activity, and diet. In individuals undergoing secondary cardiovascular prevention, promoting a healthy lifestyle is a strategy for reducing the recurrence of events.^– However, gaps in adherence to a healthy lifestyle in secondary prevention may be related to the low integration between behavior change and traditional models of outpatient care.

Nutrition plays a central role in the primary and secondary prevention of CVD, but relatively recently, food has been considered as a treatment, and not just as a complement to established medical and pharmacological therapy. Diet, in particular, has a significant impact on the management of the main modifiable risk factors for CVD such as obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension.

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