METHODS OF REDUCING OR PREVENTING OXIDATIVE MODIFICATION OF MEMBRANE POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
In various embodiments, the present invention provides methods of treating and/or preventing cardiovascular-related disease and, in particular, a method of reducing or preventing membrane cholesterol domain formation in a subject, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising eicosapentaenoic acid or a derivative thereof.
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8 . A method of reducing or preventing oxidative modification of membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising eicosapentaenoic acid or a derivative thereof.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises at least 90%, by weight of all fatty acids (and/or derivatives thereof) present, eicosapentaenoic acid or a derivative thereof.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises no more than about 20%, no more than about 10%, no more than about 5%, or no more than about 3%, by weight of all fatty acids (and/or derivatives thereof) present, docosahexaenoic acid or esters thereof.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises no docosahexaenoic acid or esters thereof.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the reduction or prevention occurs by a free radical chain-breaking mechanism.
13 . The method of claim 8 further comprising a step of measuring oxidative modification of membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids in the subject prior to administering to the subject the pharmaceutical composition comprising eicosapentaenoic acid or a derivative thereof.
14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising a step of measuring oxidative modification of membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids in the subject after administering to the subject the pharmaceutical composition comprising eicosapentaenoic acid or a derivative thereof and determining a reduction in or absence of an increase in oxidative modification of membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids in the subject.
15 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the subject is diabetic.
16 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises at least 95%, by weight of all fatty acids (and/or derivatives thereof) present, eicosapentaenoic acid or a derivative thereof.
17 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises at least 96%, by weight of all fatty acids and/or derivatives thereof present, eicosapentaenoic acid or a derivative thereof.