Fish Oil and Healthy Hearts

Thousands of people die from heart attacks (myocardial infarction) each year. Might something as simple and readily available as fish oil prevent some of these deaths? Many doctors, nutritionists and researchers believe so.

Omega-3 oils (fish oils) protect the heart by preventing blood clots or keeping other fats from injuring the arterial walls. They not only relax arteries but also help to decrease constriction of arteries and thickening of blood.

Research in the 1970's found that Omega-3 fatty acids were associated with a reduced rate of occurrence of myocardial infarction-related deaths in Greenland Eskimos. Other data suggests that Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of cardiovascular-related death by 29-52%. In addition, the risk of sudden cardiac death among those who consumed higher levels of Omega-3 via fish oil or through supplements was found to be reduced by 45-81%.[2] Fatty acid intake also significantly reduced plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels and decreased the low to high frequency ratio in Italian a study of 10 male coronary patients.[3] Research on women has also shown promise. Among women, higher consumption of fish and omega-3 fatty acids is associated with a lower risk of CHD, particularly CHD deaths.[4] Investigators have found that women who consumed fish two to four times a week were 27% less likely to have a stroke, compared with those who ate it less than once a month.

People who have already had a heart attack may benefit from a diet rich in Omega-3 as well. The benefits for survivors of myocardial infarction of eating oil-rich fish far exceed those expected from some pharmacological regimens. Furthermore, the medications that are often prescribed for heart patients are usually much more expensive than dietary advice, have contraindications to their use, and may have clinically important side effects. Fish oil is a naturally occurring substance and is considered by many experts to be a safe and effective treatment for patients who have had a heart attack.

Fish Oil and the Eyes

There is now clear evidence that dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acid is essential for normal eye and brain development. There is increasing evidence that premature infant formulas containing vegetable oils should be supplemented with long-chain EFAs to promote optimal retinal and cortical visual development.[5] Deficiency of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in humans and other vertebrates has been shown to produce subtle adverse effects on visual and neural function. This is especially crucial for infants. In a study to evaluate the necessity of dietary omega-3, preterm infants were fed human milk, corn-oil-based formula (omega 3 fatty acid deficient), soy-oil-based formula (rich in precursor fatty acids), or marine-oil-supplemented formula (containing docosahexaenoic acid). At 36 and 57 wk post-conception, the LCPUFA profiles in red blood cell lipids were nearly equivalent in the human-milk and marine-oil groups whereas the corn-oil group had markedly lower values for omega 3 fatty acids. Rod photoreceptor function was significantly less mature in the corn-oil group compared with the human-milk and marine-oil-enriched groups in early postnatal development (36 wk).[6]

Fish Oil and Mental Health

A study conducted at Harvard Medical School and published in 2001 the Archives of General Psychiatry found that fish oil may help patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Doctors studied 30 bipolar disorder patients to determine whether eating fish oil or olive oil in conjunction with regular medication stabilized the patients' moods. After four months, patients eating fish oil showed a significantly longer period of remission from the disorder than those eating olive oil. And in a related study, 30 schizophrenic patients hospitalized for relapse were given fish oil as their sole treatment for 12 weeks. The fish oil decreased one-third of the patients' symptoms enough that they postponed taking antipsychotic drugs until the trial was concluded. Although doctors remain unsure exactly how fish oil improves mood, researchers speculate that fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)--which aids in neural development--may help modulate overactive communication channels in the brain.[7]

Deficiencies in Omega-3's and other fatty acids have also been associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) Nutrient deficiencies are common in ADHD; supplementation with essential fatty acids has been shown to reduce ADHD symptoms, in some cases significantly.[8]

Other uses for Fish Oil

Research on mice has shown that that EPA supplementation inhibits tumor growth.[9] EPA or Omega-3 acids from fish oil have also been used to treat Crohn's disease[10], rheumatiod arthritis,[11] and kidney disease.[12] EPA has also been shown to help regulate and maintain a healthy immune response.[13]

When combined with vitamin B-12, omega-3 fish oils have also been used to relieve menstrual cramps and other discomfort. Omega-3 fatty acids are converted into type 3-prostaglandins, which are hormonelike substances that control pain and uterine contractions.[14] Fish oil may provide an alternative to analgesics for women who experience extreme menstrual pain.

Fish oil supplements are also a viable treatment option for Type 2 diabetics with hypertriglyceridemia.[15]