Omega 3 fish oil - The Evidence

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Title: Omega 3 fish oil - The Evidence

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Author: McEvoy

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Omega 3 fish oil - The Evidence

Copyright 2005 McEvoy

Omega 3 fatty acids are known to be beneficial to health in

a number of ways, and scientific evidence is accumulating

to back up the beliefs of those who have taken it for years

(in the form of fish oil). Some scientists believe that, as

well as reducing the risk of sudden cardiac death, Omega 3

can improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels. They can

also reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by keeping

the heart healthy.

The evidence suggesting that Omega 3 fatty acids prevent

heart disease is of several scientific types:

epidemiological evidence and archeological evidence support

the claim, as well as evidence from animal studies,

observation studies, and interventional studies.

Epidemiological evidence

Studying populations to determine frequency and

distribution of disease is known as epidemiology. Alaskan

natives as well as Eskimos in Greenland and Japanese people

in fishing villages have been found by scientists to have

low rates of sudden cardiac death and of cardiovascular

disease – this is attributed to the large amount of fish in

their daily diet.

Archeological evidence

Our early Paleolithic ancestors were, according to

archaeological evidence, very fit and free of coronary

heart disease. Their healthiness was due partly to the

active lifestyle of the hunter-gatherer, which required

that they exert themselves on a daily basis in order to

survive (to gather food and protect themselves from harm).

Diet also played an important role. They ate natural foods

which contained a great deal of fruits, vegetables, nuts,

lean protein, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, and

Omega 3 fatty acids. At this time they would have consumed

few saturated fats, no trans fats, and no refined grains

and sugars.This contrasts sharply with the modern diet

which usually includes a lot of processed food.

The undomesticated animals eaten in the Paleolithic period

were also very different from those we eat today. Then, the

meat would be rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, since the

animals would graze on vegetation and algae which was

itself rich in Omega 3. Our domesticated animals are fed on

grain and corn, making the meat high in saturated fat but

low in Omega 3 fatty acids. The same goes for farmed fish,

which is usually lower in Omega 3 than wild fish.

Modern people lead more sedentary lives than the

hunter-gatherers, despite the fact that we are genetically

designed to be active in the way that they were. Our diets

have a high quotient of saturated fats and trans fats, as

well as grains and refined sugars. Such diets do not have a

high level of Omega 3 fatty acids which are known to be

beneficial to health. This combination of low activity and

high intake of the wrong foods leads to such problems as

high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary heart disease,

as well as contributing to the epidemic of obesity.

Animal studies

When scientists performed experiments on dogs, rats and

marmosets, they found that Omega 3 fatty acids could

prevent ventricular fibrillation when given to animals just

before heart attacks were induced – this prevented sudden

death. Omega 3 was also found to halt ventricular

fibrillation once it had started. This suggests there is a

strong possibility Omega 3 fatty acids could work to avert

ventricular fibrillation in heart attacks in humans.

Evidence from observational studies

The Nurses’ health study and the Physicians’ health study

are large, long-term observational studies examining the

relationship between dietary intake of fish oil or Omega 3

fatty acids, and the risk of sudden cardiac death and heart

disease. The Physicians’ study began in 1982, and followed

over 20,000 healthy male physicians for 11 years. They

filled out questionnaires on lifestyle and diet at 12

months and 18 months, having given data on lifestyle, diet

and coronary risk factors at the study’s commencement. In

1998 the results were published in JAMA (vol. 279, pg. 23)

under the title ‘Fish Consumption and Risk of Sudden

Cardiac Death’. The findings show that men eating one or

more fish portions a week had a 50% lower risk of

developing sudden cardiac death, compared with men who ate

fish less than once a month.

Conclusion

There are reams of evidence which shows the benefits of a

correct balance of Omega 3 in daily diet, and more is

accumulating all the time.

About the Author:

Dave McEvoy is an award winning personal trainer with over

20 years experience; he also runs a high quality health

supplement website. http://www.mind1st.co.uk