01/08/2014 // Concord, CA, USA // LifeCare123 // Eva Hvingelby // (press release)

FISH OIL SHOWN NOT EFFECTIVE

For many years, the medical community has recommended taking an Omega 3 fatty acid supplement, commonly sold as fish oil, to help protect the heart. In May 2013, a comprehensive research study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine that challenges this recommendation. The research study enrolled over 12,000 patients who already had either high risk factors for heart disease or existing atherosclerotic vascular disease, a condition in which the arteries become thickened and inflamed from a buildup of fat and cellular debris. The study was designed so that half of the patients received a prescription level dose of Omega 3 fatty acid every day, while the other half received an olive oil placebo. The patients were followed for an average of five years at which time researchers compared the two groups to see if one fared better than the other. Rate of death, number of non-fatal heart attacks and number of non-fatal strokes were measured for both groups. Surprisingly, researchers found there was no difference in outcomes between the group that took an Omega-3 fish oil supplement and the placebo group, meaning the fish oil made no difference.

Before you throw away your Omega 3 supplement it’s important to remember that all of the individuals enrolled in the study had a high risk for having a heart attack, and most of them were already taking a variety of medications which might have covered up the benefits of the fish oil. Additional research studies are happening now to determine if taking fish oil before heart disease develops is effective. While relying on a fish oil supplement as your only preventative is not recommended, eating a diet that includes fish still is. The American Heart Association suggests that at least two meals a week should consist of fatty fish such as mackerel, lake trout, salmon, herring, and albacore tuna.

BEST APPROACH TO HEART HEALTH

You have control over many of the risk factors that lead to heart disease, and certain lifestyle choices are proven to have a significant impact on your chances of having a heart attack. According to The Centers for Disease Control, eating a diet that is low in saturated fat and high in fiber, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, limiting alcohol use, and not smoking are part of prevention. Speak with your physician about an exercise program that works for you, and if you smoke, make it a priority to stop. If you are not sure how to best change your diet, or if it’s difficult to get your family on board with healthy eating, ask your doctor if you can speak with a nutritionist. They often have great recommendations that work with your culture, food preferences, and dietary needs. These interventions will have a much more powerful effect on lowering your risk factors than taking fish oil alone.

Roncaglioni, M., Tombesi, M., Avanzini, F., Barlera, S., Caimi, V., Longoni, P., Marzona, I., Milani, V., Silletta, M., Tognoni, G., & Marchioli, R. Risk and Prevention Study Collaborative Group, n-3 fatty acids in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors (2013) New England Journal of Medicine. 368:1800-1808.

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. (2013) How can heart disease be prevented. Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hdw/prevention.html

Center for Disease Control (2013). Prevention: what you can do. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/what_you_can_do.htm

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