Jimmy Downs

Thursday April 25, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Large epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials suggest that eating oily fish or taking fish oil or omega 3 fatty acids from plant sources or marine sources may help both healthy people to prevent cardiovascular disease and patients with preexisting coronary heart disease to control their conditions.

There are two types of omega-3 fatty acids, one type found in fish and fish oils containing the 20-carbon eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and the 22-carbon docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and another type the 18-carbon α-linolenic acid (ALA) found in nuts and plant oils such as canola, walnut, soybean and flaxseed oils.

Dr. Penny M. Kris-Etherton from Pennsylvania State University, Department of Nutrition,  in University Park, PA and colleagues released a report in 2003 suggesting that the plant-derived omega fatty acid seems less potent than DHA and EPA.

In addition to reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease, omega 3 fatty acids were also found to affect cardiac function including anti-arrhythmic effect, hemodynamics, and arterial endothelial function, which explains why omega 3 or n-3 works to help prevent cardiovascular disease or help patients with this disease, according to Recommendations from the American Heart Association released in an AHA Scientific Statement.

Earlier, J. E. Kinsella from Institute of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY and colleagues proposed several mechanisms in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition to explain why "Consumption of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) is associated with a reduced incidence of coronary arterial diseases."

They said dietary n-3 PUFAs depress serum lipid, particularly triglycerides by inhibiting hepatic triglycerides and possibly also apoprotein synthesis.  Second, n-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA also replace arachidonic acid in phospholipids and inhibit cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase and reduce the synthesis of eicosanoids such as thromboxane and leukotrience.  As a result, they decrease the thrombotic tendency of platelets.  The depression of the vasoactive antiaggregatory prostacyclin and the formation of antiaggregaory prostaglandin I3 from EPA also enhance the decrease in the thrombotic tendency of platelets.

Omega 3 fatty acids also depress eicosanoid metabolism in platelets, monocytes and macrophages delaying the onset of atherogenesis, and reduce blood pressure and blood viscosity and help membranes fluidity.

How much could a person take?   Studies showed that taking 0.5 to 1.8 grams per day of EPA + DHA significantly reduced the number of deaths from heart disease and all cause mortality.

Fish or fish oils or omega 3 fatty acid supplements like DHA and EPA are not the only preventatives available for people to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease.    Dietary fiber, which is available over the Internet as a dietary supplement, curcumin, low fat diet, vegan diet, Mediterranean diet, dietary antioxidant flavonoids and antioxidants among other things can all help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease like coronary heart disease.