Research supporting the benefits of fish oil and the high level of omega 3 fatty acids contained therein has been abundant. But what new research found this month is that fish oil consumption may save more lives than the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The findings will be published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine this coming month.
It might sound crazy to say that fish oil could save more lives than a device that resets the heart, but it seems to be true. But rest assured, the authors are not saying that giving someone fish oil the day of a usual fatal episode of cardiac arrest will save their life. What they are saying is that increasing daily consumption of fish and fish oils high in omega 3 fatty acids can provide enough protection that you are less likely to die of cardiac arrest, an arrythmia, or a heart attack.
Researchers at the Heart Center at Regions Hospital in Minnesota used a computer model to simulate what the effect fish oil consumption would have on 100,000 typical Americans. Data from past medical studies was used to create the sample study population, which matched with the typical health profile of US citizens today.
Out of 100,000 people it was estimated, using past scientific results, that omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil could save an average of 58 lives per year, or just above 6%. Compare this to AED units which only save less than 1% of the population per year.
They also looked at the effect implanted defibrillators would have on death rates and compared that to the fish oil statistics and found that about 3% of cardiac deaths would be prevented.
These findings, state the authors, are not evidence enough to urge every person to take fish oil to prevent sudden cardiac death. More conclusive clinical trials are needed to show proof. But at this moment, fish oils are showing up to be even more beneficial.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on September 14, 2006 03:29 PM
