Cardiac Arrest Risk: Omega-3 Reduces by 15%
Heart Attack Risk: 15% Lower Chance by Taking Fish Oil
Consuming higher amounts of Omega-3 with the consequent increase of their levels in the blood can reduce the risk of cardiac arrest by up to 15%. The benefits of Omega-3 for the heart are confirmed by an analysis published in the journal Clinical Nutrition1. Its authors, led by experts from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard University in Boston (USA), reviewed studies conducted to date and concluded that these fatty acids truly exert a protective effect on the heart.
Cardiac Arrest: Evidence of the Usefulness of Omega-3
The benefits of Omega-3 for health are varied. Several organs are involved, from the brain to the joints, skin, and eyes. Most studies on their effects concern the cardiovascular system. The first hypotheses about a link between the consumption of these fatty acids and heart and blood vessel health date back about 40 years. Since then, many researchers have tried to verify this hypothesis, and supporting data have become increasingly numerous. Among these, many indicate that Omega-3 reduce mortality in case of cardiac arrest. Evidence of an influence on the incidence of this event is more fragmentary. More Omega-3, fewer heart attacks To clarify this aspect, researchers from Boston compared results from the 7 most relevant studies published before the end of August 2011. The analysis involved data from 176,441 individuals, totaling 5,480 cases of cardiac arrest. The authors calculated that subjects with higher Omega-3 levels have a 14% lower risk of cardiac arrest compared to those with lower amounts. The effect is similar in those who eat fatty fish rich in Omega-3: the most frequent consumers have a 15% lower chance of experiencing this event. The protective effect is proportional to the amount of fish consumed: the risk decreases by 5% for every 15 grams of fish per day. Similarly, an increase of 125 milligrams daily in Omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) corresponds to a 3% reduction in cardiac arrest risk. For experts in the field, this effect indicates the high potential of Omega-3 in protecting cardiovascular health.
Protection Confirmed
The results of this analysis support data from previous studies indicating that the consumption of EPA and DHA can reduce the risk of heart attack. According to the authors, this effect may be due to the ability of fish and Omega-3 to reduce triglyceride levels and regulate total blood fats, improve ventricular function, heart rate, and inflammatory status.
