A Comprehensive Literature Review and Assessment Confirms That Omega-3 Supplementation Maintains Cardiovascular Health

by | Aug 7, 2008 | 2006, Cardiovascular Health, Fish Oil Supplements

Written by Susan Sweeny Johnson, PhD, Biochem. 

The Dietary Supplement Education Alliance (DSEA) commissioned a study of the current research on the health benefit and subsequent health care cost reductions of three supplements, one of which is omega-3 fatty acids. The study looked at the health care dollar savings from preventing hospitalizations due to complications of coronary heart disease (CHD) such as heart attack, death, atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.

The study looked at research that showed:

  1. The omega-3 supplement had an effect on a measurable biomarker such as blood concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids.
  2. Taking the omega-3 supplement caused an improvement in health.
  3. The omega-3 supplement resulted in a reduction in health care costs.

Their overall findings were that if everyone over 65 took 1800mg of the omega-3’s eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 384,000 hospitalizations due to events related to CHD could be prevented over five years in the U.S. The savings would amount to $3.1 billion.

The FDA supports a qualified health claim based on their own research study that foods and supplements containing EPA and DHA reduce the risk of CHD.  They also recommend no more than 3000mg of these fatty acids a day with no more than 2000mg from supplements.

These are some of the studies examined by the Lewin group:

  1. The largest controlled trial by an Italian group of 11,000 people showed that taking 850 mg of EPA and DHA for 3.5 years reduced the incidence of sudden death from heart attack 45% and incidence of death from other causes 20%. (1)
  2. Singh et al. showed that heart attack patients had significantly fewer further heart problems when they took 1.8g EPA and DHA as fish oil or 2.9g of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) as mustard seed oil for one year as compared to placebo. (2)
  3. A study of 84,500 nurses for 16 years correlated higher dietary EPA and DHA as determined by questionnaire with reduced CHD symptoms.  In addition, 5000 diabetic nurses showed lower CHD symptoms with higher fish consumption. (3)
  4. Albert et al. in a case-controlled study over 17 years observed a decrease in death from CHD when blood concentrations of omega-3’s were higher. (4)

Experts agree that taking about 1800mg of omega-3 supplements per day is good for your heart health and your budget.  In addition to omega-3 supplements, major sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish (e.g.salmon or sardines), fish oil, vegetable oils (e.g.canola and soybean), and certain nuts (e.g.walnuts).

Source: DaVanzo, J. E., A. Dobson, M. Tannamor, and J. Dollard. “An Evidence-Based Study of the Role of Dietary Supplements in Helping Seniors Maintain their Independence.” Falls Church (VA): The Lewin Group Inc (2006).

Posted August 7, 2008.

References:

  1. Dietary supplementation with n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E after myocardial infarction: results of the GISSIPrevenzione trial. Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell’Infarto miocardico. Lancet. 1999;354(9177):447455.
  2. Singh RB, Niaz MA, Sharma JP, Kumar R, Rastogi V, Moshiri M. Randomized, doubleblind, Placebo controlled trial of fish oil and mustard oil in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction: the Indian experiment of infarct survival. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 1997;11(3):485491.
  3. Hu FB, Cho E, Rexrode KM, Albert CM, Manson JE. (2003) Fish and longchain ù3 fatty acid intake and risk of coronary heart disease and total mortality in diabetic women. Circulation.107(14):18521857.
  4. Albert CM, Campos H, Stampfer MJ, et al. (2002) Blood levels of longchain n3 fatty acids and the risk of sudden death. The New England Journal of Medicine. 346(15):11131118.