Posted by Britney on May 16, 2004 at 22:20:27:
In Reply to: Thank you, Steve! Congratulations on your 5 years. posted by Henry Alken on January 10, 2004 at 12:41:45:
Click Here to Read About the Benefits of Omega-3s and Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular, Heart Disease and Omega-3 Fatty Acids:
There has been a strong inverse association between omega-3 fatty acids, cardiovascular diseases, and heart disease in many observational studies. Some of the initial evidence focused on the Inuit, an Eskimo population in Greenland, who have a significantly lower mortality rate from cardiovascular disease despite high total fat intake and similar cholesterol levels when compared to the population of Denmark. The Inuit diet consists largely of cold water fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids.
In 1996 the American Heart Association released its Science Advisory, “Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Lipids and Coronary Heart Disease.” Since then important new findings have been reported about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular disease and overall heart health. These contain evidence from randomized, controlled clinical trials. New information has emerged about how omega-3 fatty acids affect heart function (including antiarrhythmic effects), hemodynamics (cardiac mechanics) and arterial endothelial function. These findings are outlined in the American Heart Association November 2002 Scientific Statement, “Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease.” The American Heart Association also recommended the following: “People who have elevated triglycerides may need 2 to 4 grams of EPA and DHA per day provided as a supplement. Even the 1 gram/day dose recommended for patients with existing cardiovascular disease may be more than can readily be achieved through diet alone.”
The American Heart Association reported that omega-3 fatty acids can reduce cardiovascular and heart disease risk. Although the mechanisms responsible for omega-3 fatty acids’ reduction of cardiovascular and heart disease risk are still being studied, research has shown:
· Decrease risk of sudden death and arrhythmia
· Decrease thrombosis (blood clot)
· Decrease triglyceride levels
· Decrease growth of atherosclerotic plaque
· Improve arterial heart health
· Lower blood pressure, less heart stress
· Overall increase in heart disease
Since the association between omega-3 fatty acid intake and cardiovascular disease was made in observational studies, researchers have conducted several interventional clinical trials that have shown decreased mortality from cardiovascular disease, specifically myocardial infarction in the past two decades.
One of the most well known studies, the GISSI-3 {Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto Miocardio (GISSI)-Prevenzione}, in which 11,324 people were given 1gram of omega-3 fatty acids or control for 24 months. This large study showed that persons given omega-3 fatty acid supplements had a 45% decrease in risk of sudden cardiac death and a 20% reduction in all-cause mortality as well as a general increase in heart health.
Meta-Analysis:
A meta-analysis recently published in the American Journal of Medicine reviewed 11 clinical intervention studies published between1966 and 1999. The relative risk ratio for patients supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids as compared to controls was 0.7 (P<0.001), 0.8 for nonfatal myocardial infarctions (P=0.16) and 0.7 (P<0.001) for overall death.
What does this mean for you? Well, a meta-analysis groups the results of several studies to make more meaningful conclusions. If you eat a significant amount of fish or take an omega-3 fatty acid supplement you can decrease your risk of dying by 30% or you risk of having a fatal heart attack by 20%. That is a pretty persuasive argument to supplement your diet with omega-3 fatty acids to fight heart disease!
Hypertension:
A meta-analysis on hypertension, that included 17 clinical trials, concluded that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients. The effect on non-hypertensive patients was minimal.
Arrythmias:
Several clinical interventions, including GISSI-3 mentioned above, studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids reduce sudden death, especially in patients who have prior coronary artery disease. The decrease in sudden death is partly attributed to the reduction in fatal cardiac arrythmias. Recent animal studies are close to elucidating the mechanism behind this heart health benefit.