Omega-3, new analysis confirms benefits for heart and arteries
Omega 3 EPA DHA: the great anti-inflammatory benefits for heart and arteries
The evidence of the health benefits for the heart provided by Omega-3 fatty acids is significant, but not all sources of these nutrients are equally effective. This is demonstrated by a new analysis of scientific literature data, published by researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute of Oregon State University in Corvallis (United States). Conducted by Donald Jump, Christopher Depner, and Sasmita Tripathy, the analysis also offers a possible explanation for the contrasting results obtained in some recent studies. In particular, according to the experts, the benefits of fish oil rich in Omega-3 on the health of patients already diagnosed with cardiovascular disorders are masked by the high efficacy of the medications these patients are already taking.
Benefits for the heart (and beyond)
The first clues of the protective effectiveness of Omega-3 on heart and blood vessels date back to the 1970s. At that time, Jorn Dyeberg noticed that the Eskimo populations of Greenland, whose diet was rich in fatty fish containing Omega-3, were protected from the onset of cardiovascular diseases. Four decades of research now allow us to affirm that these fatty acids are not only valuable to reduce the risk of thrombosis, improve blood pressure, heart rhythm, and vascular function. Indeed, the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the two Omega-3s abundant in fish and fish oil, also provide benefits at the level of the nervous system, joints, and immune system.
Heart medications can mask the benefits of omega 3s
While science discovered the protective role played by Omega-3s for the heart, medicine was making great strides in developing drugs to treat cardiovascular diseases. Today, those suffering from these diseases can rely on extremely effective therapies. According to Jump, it is precisely this reality that makes the benefits of fish oil intake less evident in those already suffering from cardiovascular disease and taking these medications. In fact, as Jump himself pointed out, the first studies conducted decades ago had found that Omega-3s also exert beneficial effects in those affected by cardiovascular disease. Benefits that today are masked by the effect of the drugs, which are not discontinued to test the efficacy of other products. Another key point emphasized by Jump is that fish oil is not a drug, but a dietary supplement and, as such, must be taken for a longer time than a medication before showing its effects.
How much Omega-3 to take for prevention?
The analysis also highlights differences between the various sources of Omega-3 available on the market. Jump emphasized that the current evidence indicates that what matters for cardiovascular disease prevention is the amount of EPA and DHA in heart tissues and blood. Compared to fish and fish-derived oil, plant sources would be less effective because they do not directly provide these two Omega-3s to the body, but their precursor, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is converted to the other two with rather low efficiency. For this reason, the expert recommends consuming daily between 200 and 300 milligrams of a mixture of EPA and DHA to protect cardiovascular health.
Source Jump DB, Depner CM, Tripathy S, “Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and cardiovascular disease: Thematic Review Series: New Lipid and Lipoprotein Targets for the Treatment of Cardiometabolic Diseases”, J Lipid Res. 2012 Dec;53(12):2525-45. doi: 10.1194/jlr.R027904
