Previous studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils reduce the risk of heart disease and sudden cardiac death. Consuming a small amount of fish, once or twice weekly, has been found to offer heart protection. Now research reports that people who eat more fish (or more omega-3s) have an even greater reduction of heart disease risk.
The study, published in Circulation, investigated the association of high fish intake and omega-3 fatty acids on the risk of heart disease. Japanese researchers analyzed data from the Japan Public Health Center-Based (JPHC) Study Cohort I including 41,578 Japanese men and women, aged 40 to 59 years, who did not have heart disease or cancer at the beginning of the study. Food frequency questionnaires obtained from the participants were analyzed to determine weekly fish and omega-3 intake. In a follow-up from 1990-1992 to 2001, there were 258 cases of heart disease, including 196 nonfatal and 62 fatal coronary events.
The researchers found that participants who consumed fish more than eight times per week reduced the risk of heart disease by 37 percent and the risk of heart attack by 56 percent, compared to those whose intake was once per week. In addition, participants who consumed at least 2.1 grams of omega-3s daily reduced the risk of nonfatal coronary events by 67 percent and the risk of heart attack by 65 percent, compared to those whose intake was less than 300 milligrams daily.
"High consumption of fish was associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease, more specifically, myocardial infarction and nonfatal coronary heart disease, compared with a modest fish consumption," the study authors write. "Our results suggest that a high fish intake may add a further beneficial effect for the prevention of coronary heart disease among middle-aged persons."
REFERENCES:
1. Iso H et al. Intake of Fish and n3 Fatty Acids and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Among Japanese. The Japan Public Health Center-Based (JPHC) Study Cohort I. Circulation 2006 Jan17;113(2):195-201.
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on July 27, 2006 02:15 PM
