Fish oil reduces heart problems
Written by Bupa's medical team - 9 April 2002
New research from America has shown that omega-3 fatty acids, found in some fish, can halve the risk of sudden death among heart patients following a heart attack.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and fresh tuna as opposed to white fish like cod and haddock. The body is incapable of producing the substance naturally and has to rely purely on dietary intake. Its positive health associations in treating coronary heart disease have been known about for some time, but this particular study found it to be of help to a previously untreatable condition.
Italian researchers studied more than 11,000 heart attack survivors and their reaction to a daily dose of omega-3 fatty acid. It was found that a one gram daily dose was enough to reduce the risk of death from a sudden heart attack by 42 per cent. The supplement was found to have a particular effect on patients with a condition called cardiac arrhythmia, leading to irregular heartbeats.
Commenting on the findings the chief researcher Dr Roberto Martial, from the Consortia Mario Negroid Sod research institute in Italy, said: "The risk of death, and sudden death, is higher in the first months after a heart attack. It is exactly in this period that the effect on sudden death was noted."
By the end of the three-year study the risk had levelled off between the two groups although the group taking the supplement still had a slightly lower risk - 2 per cent in comparison to 2.7 per cent.
All participants in the study had to eat a Mediterranean diet rich in fruit, vegetables olive oil and fish which is thought to help reduce the incidence of heart disease.
The British Heart Foundation estimate that up to 30 per cent of deaths from coronary heart disease are due to unhealthy diets. It recommends a reduction in fat intake, particularly saturated fat, a reduction in salt, an increase in carbohydrate and eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Eating at least two portions of fish per week (at least one oily fish) is also recommended - especially in light of this recent research.
Dr Wendy Doyle from the British Dietetics Association agrees and advises people not to rely on vitamin supplements to balance their diet but to introduce a wide range of food groups for maximum benefit.
"If people want to take supplements I would recommend fish flesh oil for the highest content of omega-3, but people need to be aware of exactly what they are taking if using in addition with other vitamin supplements," she said.
Links:
- British Heart Foundation
- British Dietetics Association
- "Coronary artery disease" article
- "Returning to a full life after a heart attack" article
