Category Archives: Fish Oil Heart

Fish Oil Ingredient has “Pretty Big Effect” on Heart Health, says Researcher

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A new study shows fish oil benefits for heart health include a significantly reduced risk for irregular heart beats, a condition known as atrial fibrillation or arrhythmia.

Background info

The American Heart Association reports that around 3 million Americans live with irregular heartbeats, a condition known as Atrial Fibrillation (AF) or Arrhythmia. Not unlike other heart disease risk factors, such as smoking and obesity, irregular heartbeats are cause for concern. You can read about symptoms and patient experiences here.

According to the Mayo Clinic, these common heart conditions can lead to serious health complications that require immediate medical intervention when left untreated. With AF, “the heart’s two upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly — out of coordination with the two lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart”.

With as scary as that sounds, mounting evidence indicates that prevention is possible.

In fact, a number of studies suggest that the omega-3s found in fortified foods, seafood and fish oil supplements seem to have a protective effect on cardiovascular health.

However, a new study recently published by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, shows that fish oil — perhaps more than than seafood and other fortified foodstuffs –might be the better first-line of defense against arrhythmia and AF conditions.

Current study & findings

Interested in locating objective data on the protective heart benefits of omega-3s, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian launched a massive 14yr scientific exploration. This newest study, which differs from earlier research involving self-reported data on omega-3 intake, meticulously analyzed blood samples from over 3,330 participants in order to gain objective statistics.

Importantly, Dr. Mozaffarian’s findings revealed that not 1, but 3 important ingredients in fish oil (EPA, DHA, & DPA) do in fact play a considerable role in heart health. You can read more about the EPA and DHA here and here.

In particular, people with higher levels of the above mentioned omega-3s experience significantly less events involving irregular heart beats over a period of 14 years.

How much less? Try 30%!!

In a statement issued to Reuters Health, Dr. Mozaffarian told correspondents that “a 30 percent lower risk of the most common chronic arrhythmia in the United States population is a pretty big effect”.

Can’t argue with that.

Implications

Dr. Mozaffarian was careful to point out that “any given fish species can vary in its omega-3s by 10-fold“, something to consider if you’re looking to add more of this heart-healthy superfood into your diet.

Naturally, researchers and physicians alike are currently looking into whether fish oil supplements should be used as a first line of prevention against atrial fibrillation.

You should, too.

Here are some other studies on the fish oil benefits for heart health worth checking out:

5 Heart-Healthy Fish Oil Benefits Proven by Research

Fish Oil Used in Europe, not US, to Treat Heart Attacks

Men Who Take Fish Oil are 33% Less Likely to Suffer Heart Failure

Source: Association of Plasma Phospholipid Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids with Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study

5 Ways To Improve Heart Health With Fish Oil

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What’s the second reason you started taking fish oil, after general health reasons? If you said you wanted to improve your heart health, you’re not alone! In fact, this the number one reason most people get turned on to taking fish oil.

1. Manage Your Cholesterol Levels

If your doctor has told you to start taking fish oil, this is probably why! According to popular science, high cholesterol is one of the leading risks factors for heart disease, yet is one of the easiest things you can control…OK, maybe not ‘easy’, but it can be done!

Chances are, you’ve been given a prescription for a group of drugs called ‘statins’ to help you balance out those cholesterol numbers. These drugs are intended to reduced cholesterol levels. The first thing you should now is that recent studies show that combining fish oil with statins protect heart functions in a way that is more effective than when either used alone!

Fish oil can help you keep both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ types of cholesterol in check, too. Recent studies suggest that the omega-3s found in fish oil raise HDL (that’s the “good” cholesterol) and lower LDL. This is great news!

The second thing you should know is that this is especially if you also have diabetes. People with diabetes tend to have high triglycerides and low HDL levels. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil can help lower triglycerides by as much as 25%, reduce apoproteins (markers of diabetes), and increases good cholesterol in diabetics!

2. Decrease Risk Of Irregular Heart Beats

Irregular heart beats or “arrhythmia” are major factors in heart-related deaths, so decreasing this risk is one of the best things you can do to boost heart health.

Fish oil has actually been shown to decrease the risk of these dangerous heart beat irregularities. So much so, that the American Heart Association recommends regular omega-3 consumption to  decrease your risk of irregular heart beats, as studies show that low levels of omega-3s are linked to higher rates of arrhythmia.

How does it work? Research suggests that omega-3s work from the inside, out. The fatty acids actually bind to the tissues surrounding the heart and can prevent irregular heart beats during strokes, one of the main causes of sudden cardiac death.

You can only lead a horse to water, though..A key finding published in Circulation, one of the American Heart Association journals, showed that nearly 35% of high risk patients chose not to follow advice given by the experts.

3. Prevent Plaque And Blood Clots

Atherosclerosis is a type of health condition where plaques build up in the arteries. Medical professionals agree plaques are responsible for most heart attacks. When this plaque ruptures, clots can form and prevent blood from passing by.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, fish oil can reduce and even prevent heart plaques and blood clots. What’s more, researchers have found there’s an inverse relationship between higher levels of omega-6s and atherosclerosis, too. That means, the higher your omega-6s, the more likely you are to develop these plaques.

Importantly, researchers have also found that C-reactive proteins (CRP) play a very big role in the development of atherosclerosis. Studies published in the American Journal of Cardiology have shown that regular fish oil consumption, and especially the DHA fatty acid found in fish oil, can lower CRP levels.

4. Improve Circulation

People with poor circulation often have thicker blood which contributes to heart problems. Poor circulation is also common in people with diabetes and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

As a natural anti-coagulant, fish oil is an ideal treatment used to improve circulation. Studies show that fish oil actually works in two ways to benefit circulation: (1) by thinning the blood, a process which involves increasing flexibility in the blood capsules and preventing clotting agents, and (2) by actually widening the walls of the blood vessels themselves.

For these reasons, fish oil is most suitable for improving circulation. However, if you are already taking blood thinning medication it is advisable to check with your doctor and read up on fish oil side effects before adding this supplement to your diet.

5. Reduce The Risk Of Future Heart Attacks

According to the American Heart Association, the strongest evidence of heart-healthy fish oil benefits is for reducing the risk of future heart attacks and preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people who already have it. Similar heart-healthy benefits are seen in people without CVD, too. For example, European researchers discovered omega-3 fish oil protects men from heart failure, a condition that affects around 5 million Americans.

While the reasons for this finding are not entirely understood by researchers, it’s likely a combination of these top 5 fish oil heart benefits. And, whether you starting taking fish oil for your heart or simply to improve your overall health, fish oil can actually help make a healthier you!

Fish Oil Improves High Blood Pressure For Overweight Teens

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Recent studies suggest that kids taking fish oil supplements may see a reduction in blood pressure, in addition to longer lasting heart healthy benefits.

A growing body of research has shown that fish oil is linked to reducing blood pressure and cholesterol in adults, but do the same results appear in kids?

In a study passed along to Reuters Health, findings suggest at least some teens can see the same healthy benefits from fish oil supplements as their adult counterparts. The study involved 80 slightly overweight Danish boys in their early to mid teens. The boys were randomly divided into two groups: one group received daily low doses of fish oil (1.5 grams, or 1 1/2 soft-gel caps), while the other group received the same dose of vegetable oil (placebo).

Sixteen weeks later, the experiment showed promising results. The teens in the fish oil group had an average 3.2hg drop in blood pressure readings for both systolic (the top number) and diastolic (the bottom number) levels. The researcher noted this same drop in adults would reduce their risk of stroke by 15%.

The Journal of Pediatrics notes that adolescents with high blood pressure appear to carry the problem with them into adulthood. This tendency is likely owed to lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise.

The teens were also tested for other heart disease risk factors like blood sugar, insulin, and cholesterol. While the teens in the fish oil group showed slight increases in “good” cholesterol (HDL) and non-HDL, there was no significant difference.

Natalie Riediger, a PhD student from University Manitoba in Canada, told Reuters Health that she doesn’t believe the tepid results mean teens wont benefit though.

Riediger explains that the vegetable oil given to the placebo group in the study contained some of the same omega-3s found in the fish oil, which may have masked the supplement’s effects to a certain degree.

The bottom line is that teenagers, like adults, can see the same heart healthy effects of fish oil supplements at a time when growing matters. Future research is definitely needed, but for now it is clear that teaching kids healthy habits will certainly pay off.

Source: Should Some Kids Take Fish Oil Supplements?

Omega-3 Fish Oil Protects Men from Heart Failure

The latest European Heart Journal contains a new study about the preventative effects of fish oil on Congestive Heart Failure, a condition that affects around 5 million Americans. US & Swedish researchers tracked the lives and diets of 39,367 Swedish men, aged 45 to 79, from 1998 to 2004. The results of this study?

The men who consumed approximately 0.36 grams a day were 33% less likely to develop heart failure than their counterparts who consumed little or no omega 3 fish oil.

0.36 grams is almost the equivalent of 1 health-food grade fish oil capsule, and half of a pharmaceutical grade capsule.

This echoes some recent news that fish oil is better than cholesterol medication for chronic heart failure. The study results will not be surprising for many doctors is Europe, where it’s almost considered malpractice to not prescribe fish oil for heart conditions.

Source: Fish Oil and Fatty Fish Protect Men from Heart Failure

BREAKING: Omega-3 Better than Cholesterol Medication for Chronic Heart Failure!

There is now a breakthrough treatment available for those suffering from Chronic Heart Failure, and no, it doesn’t come from a drug company.

What is Chronic Heart Failure?

Chronic heart failure is a condition that occurs when the heart becomes enlarged and cannot pump blood efficiently around the body.

Omega-3 fish oil has proven in a German study to be more effective than cholesterol medications for this condition for which there are very few options for treatment:

Italian researchers gave nearly 3,500 patients a daily omega-3 pill, a prescription-formulation pill derived from fish oils … Roughly the same number of patients were given placebo pills.

1,981 of the fish oil group experienced additional heart problems versus 2,053  who experienced problems in the group taking placebos. Compare these results to the group given Crestor, a popular cholesterol medication:

In a parallel study, the same team of Italian doctors gave 2,285 patients the drug rosuvastatin, also known as Crestor, and gave placebo pills to 2,289 people. Patients were then tracked for about four years. The doctors found little difference in heart failure rates between the two groups.

After comparing the studies, the researchers found that the fish oil capsules provided a greater benefit over cholesterol medication for Chronic Heart Failure.

Source: Fish oil helps patients with chronic heart failure

Related Posts:

5 Ways To Improve Heart Health With Fish Oil

Omega-3 Fish Oil Protects Men from Heart Failure

Fish Oil Used to Treat Heart Attacks in Europe, But Not US?

American Heart Association: Statins and Fish Oil Protect Heart

Fish Oil Used to Treat Heart Attacks in Europe, But Not US?

Currently the most e-mailed article on the New York Times Website is one about fish oil being used in Europe after heart attacks, but not in the United States.

Every patient in the cardiac care unit at the San Filippo Neri Hospital who survives a heart attack goes home with a prescription for purified fish oil.

“It is clearly recommended in international guidelines,” said Dr. Massimo Santini, the hospital’s chief of cardiology, who added that it would be considered tantamount to malpractice in Italy to omit the drug.

Omitting omega-3 is considered malpractice? Not surprising. In Denmark, every nursing mother is required to start taking fish oil supplements within 7 days of childbirth!

As the article correctly points out, “In a large number of studies, prescription fish oil has been shown to improve survival after heart attacks and to reduce fatal heart rhythms.”  However, in the United States, fish oil supplements aren’t typically recommended for people that have had heart attacks. Instead, they “are routinely offered more expensive and invasive treatments, like pills to lower cholesterol or implantable defibrillators.”

How likely are US physicians to prescribe fish oil following a heart attack?

A study published last month in The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found that only 17 percent of family doctors were likely to prescribe fish oil to their patients, including patients who had suffered a heart attack. There was a great need, the authors concluded, to improve awareness of this important advice.

Maybe your doctor has some ‘splainin to do!

Source: New York Times: In Europe It’s Fish Oil After Heart Attacks, But Not U.S.

Related Posts

5 Ways To Improve Heart Health With Fish Oil

Omega-3 Fish Oil Protects Men from Heart Failure

BREAKING: Omega-3 Better than Cholesterol Medication for Chronic Heart Failure!

American Heart Association: Statins and Fish Oil Protect Heart

American Heart Association: Statins and Fish Oil Protect Heart

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The American Heart Association just released a report about a Japanese study of over 18,000 people that lasted nearly 5 years. The study reports that the use of fish oil in conjuction with statins, a cholesterol-lowering drug, had a greater effect on reducing heart-related maladies than just statins alone. These conditions included:

…sudden cardiac death, heart attack, unstable angina (sustained chest pain due to the heart’s oxygen starvation), or undergoing procedures to reopen blocked arteries, such as angioplasty/stenting or coronary artery bypass surgery.

According to the report, this type of study is “the first large-scale, prospective, randomized trial that combines statins and omega-3 fatty acid therapy.” What did this one-of-a-kind study find?

Researchers found that 8.7 percent of statin/EPA-treated patients in the secondary prevention group experienced one of the composite outcomes, compared to 10.7 percent of the statin-only secondary prevention group, again a 19 percent risk reduction in those getting statin plus EPA.

Nearly a 20% risk reduction, just from a few grams of fish oil a day. Dr. Robert Eckel, M.D., President of the American Heart Assocation, adds a warning about the dosage: “An important consideration is that the dose of omega-3 fish oil — 1,800 mg a day of highly purified EPA — is more than the standard over-the-counter supplement.” And he’s right! You don’t want to take much of the typical health food grade fish oil out there. Make sure to pick up some pharmaceutical grade fish oil!

Source: Fish oil supplements plus statins protect against heart disease.