Omega 3 heart: fish oil may prevent heart attack especially in men

Heart health also depends on Omega 3: moderate consumption of fish rich in these fatty acids protects the male heart by decreasing theincidence of cardiac arrest. This was shown by a study from Harvard Medical School in Boston, United States, published in the European Heart Journal. The research, which involved middle- and older-aged men, confirms the benefits of Omega-3s for the heart.

Omega-3, wellness for the heart

The heart health benefits of a diet rich in Omega-3s have been known since the 1970s. It was during this period, in fact, that the first studies appeared on the Eskimo populations of Greenland, characterized by one of the lowest incidences of heart disease in the world. Analyses conducted at the time revealed for the first time the strength of the Eskimo diet, in which fatty fish rich in Omega-3s predominate. Over the years, researchers have deepened their understanding of the cardiovascular health benefits of consuming these fatty acids. Omega-3s have thus been shown to protect the heart by counteracting cardiovascular risk factors, such as elevated triglyceride levels andhigh blood pressure. This corresponds to a 20 to 45 percent reduction in mortality associated with events such asmyocardial infarction.

The benefits for the male sex

Some studies have led to the hypothesis that in men, consumption of fatty fish and the Omega-3s in which it is rich is associated with a lower likelihood of going into cardiac arrest during old age. No research had confirmed that such a correlation also existed in other age groups and in populations where the type of fish typical of the local diet differed from those rich in these fatty acids. For this reason, experts at Harvard Medical School decided to extend the analysis to younger men as well. The researchers conducted a population study involving, in total, 39,367 Swedish men who were middle-aged or older. Their eating habits were analyzed through questionnaires aimed at obtaining information on how often they consumed different foods. Cases of cardiac arrest were identified by analyzing Swedish records of hospital admissions and causes of death covering the period from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2004. Careful statistical analysis enabled the scientists to detect in men who eat fish at least once a week a significant reduction in the risk of cardiac arrest. A similar effect was also found when taking into account the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3, good even without overdoing it

Based on these results, the authors concluded that it is not necessary to consume high amounts of Omega-3 or fatty fish to protect the heart. Moderate consumption of these nutrients is, in fact, sufficient to achieve the same protective effect that men who consume higher amounts can benefit from.  

Source 

1. Levitan EB, Wolk A, Mittleman MA, "Fish consumption, marine omega-3 fatty acids, and incidence of heart failure: a population-based prospective study of middle-aged and elderly men," Eur Heart J. 2009 Jun;30(12):1495-500. Epub 2009 Apr 21