Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Unlike the other leading causes of death, no medical therapies currently available improve the course of disease or affect survival in COPD. Recent investigations suggest that endothelial dysfunction and chronic inflammation is fundamental to COPD. Fish oil intake improves endothelial dysfunction and lowers levels of inflammatory intermediaries which may be important in the development of COPD.