Advertisements which promote the health benefits of one oil over all others are again providing oversimplified information. Every oil has its health benefits and drawbacks. None is a cure-all. N-6 fatty acids encourage the formation of eicosanoids called prostaglandins and leukotrienes. These are potent chemicals which can increase platelet and monocyte activity respectively, thus increasing the risk of heart attack.
Plasma lipids consist party of cholesterol and triglycerides.
The reduction of lipoproteins in effect reduces plasma lipids and ultimately helps preven atherosclerosis and heart disease. The health benefits are an increase in prostacyclin and a decrease in thromboxane. A decrease in thromboxane is also desirable because it increases platelet activity and arterial spasms, the opposite effect of prostacyclin. The amount of N-3 oils varies in different types of fish. It is commonly believed that only salt water fish contain significant levels of N-3 fatty acid.