peterants

Evidence supporting the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids is so convincing that fish oil is the only dietary supplement the American Heart Association recommends people consider taking.

That’s the lead paragraph in one of several articles in the June, 2007 issue of the Life Extension Foundation magazine.

The article goes on to reference a study which shows conclusively that low levels of EPA and DHA in the blood raise the risk of heart attack and sudden death substantially. In fact

Compared to age-matched controls, the risk of unstable angina (chest pain from coronary artery occlusion) or heart attack was reduced by an astounding 62% for every 1.24% increase in whole-blood EPA/DHA. …[T]he risk of having a serious cardiac event plummets as blood levels of EPA/DHA increase.

To achieve a good level of EPA/DHA the article recommends 1400 mg of EPA each day and 1000 mg of DHA.

Elsewhere in the same magazine are articles about studies indicating that DHA may help prevent breast cancer, and that Omega-3 fatty acids boost brain volume and mood.

The last article relating to fish oil, and its effects on both brain and heart health states:

There is now indisputable evidence that supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids can help prevent and treat a variety of chronic diseases, including heart disease and Altzheimer’s.

After referring to more studies regarding fish oil and heart health, the article shifts to omega-3 fatty acids and their effect on the brain.

A study published last year in the Archives of Neurology examined 899 men and women over an average of more than nine years to determine whether DHA had a protective effect against Altzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Subjects who had the highest DHA levels in their bloodstream had a marked 47% lower risk of developing all-cause dementia, and a modestly reduced risk of developing Altzheimer’s disease.

If you don’t eat two or three meals of cold water fish per week, it would bew wise to consider taking fish oil supplements.