More Evidence Supports Fish Oil Supplementation

Two major studies released on November 10, 2018 confirm that medications derived from fish oil are effective in fighting cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and stroke.

Omega-3 fatty acids were tested in different formulations on both folks who had heart disease or diabetes against a group representing the general population. Both studies indicated anti-aging protection against some heart and circulatory problems for people who took the omega-3-formulated drugs.

The three omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaneoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA). ALA is common in flaxseed, soybean, and canola oils, while the latter two are found mainly in fish and other seafood.

Because heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the U.S., researchers were looking for ways to combat it in addition to recommendations of exercise, diet, and smoking cessation.

One of the studies showed that people with cardiovascular disease who took a cholesterol-lowering drug (called statins) had better outcomes (lower “bad” cholesterol levels) if they also supplemented with 2 grams of a drug that’s essentially a purified version of fish oil that targets triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood) twice a day. Above-normal triglyceride levels can cause hardening of the arteries, elevated risk of stroke and heart attack.

A 2014 study in Nutrition Journalindicated Americans aren’t getting enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diets, and the researchers suggested supplementation could help reach recommended levels. Further, most Americans are increasingly getting too much omega-6 fatty acids in their diets, which throws off the recommended ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s, which is linked to inflammation and obesity. A ratio of 2:1 to 4:1 of sixes to threes is recommended.

The research was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.