Omega-3 reduces women's heart risk

Even women also suffer from heart attacks and stroke, and they, too, can benefit from omega-3 fish oil.

Although most studies focus on the prevention of heart disease in men, women suffering from heart attacks and strokes are now alarming heart experts.

A study published in the international journal JAMA has shown that among women, higher consumption of fish and omega-3 fatty acids is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), particularly CHD deaths.

Considered a landmark study, the investigators tracked down 84,688 female nurses enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study, aged 34 to 59 and free from cardiovascular disease and cancer at baseline in 1980.

During 16 years of follow-up, women with a higher intake of omega-3 had a lower risk of CHD.

The analysis considered the impact of age, smoking and other cardiovascular risk factors, so the effect on the outcome was mainly due to the intake of omega-3 sources.

Even after adjustment for age and other cardiac risk factors, the women with higher omega-3 intake had a 31 percent lower risk for CHD.

Another study from the Physicians’ Health Study (PHS), also published in JAMA, likewise showed that higher intake of omega-3 reduced risk from sudden death, a common fear of heart patients.  

Seventeen years of follow-up revealed that progressively higher serum levels of omega-3 fatty acids were associated with progressively — and dramatically — lower risk for sudden cardiac death.

A third study (from Italy) assessed data from more than 11,000 patients with recent heart attack who had been given one gram daily of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, 300 mg/day of vitamin E, both or neither.

Compared with no treatment, the omega-3 fatty-acid supplement reduced death risk by a notable 41 percent at three months — mostly from reduced risk for sudden death, which, on its own, reached significance by four months. Vitamin E added no benefit.

These studies add to the growing literature supporting the benefit, and elucidating the underlying mechanisms, of omega-3 fatty acids in preventing heart disease.

Further prospective, randomized trials must firmly establish and explain these benefits.

Heart experts recommend that eating fish regularly (especially dark-meat fish such as salmon) or taking omega-3 fish-oil supplements appears to reduce heart disease risk safely, and cheaply for most people.

The beneficial effects of fish oils have been attributed to various mechanisms, including reduced triglyceride levels, reduced inflammation in the arteries causing atherosclerosis or narrowing, slightly lowered blood pressure, reduced blood clotting, and reduced tendency of the heart to develop abnormal rhythms.

Other benefits attributed to regular intake of fish oil include alleviation of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, improvement of brain function, and protection of kidneys in transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

Omegabloc is one of the brands of omega-3 fish oil locally available in Mercury and other leading drug stores. It has been available in the country for more than 10 years. Usual recommended dose is one softgel two to three times daily.

Omegabloc comes from NOW Foods in the United States, one of the top manufacturers of vitamins and food supplements worldwide.

NOW Foods is represented in the Philippines by Trianon International.

Charles Cultura, Trianon national sales and marketing manager, said that although Omegabloc is an over-the-counter product and requires no prescription, many doctors are now prescribing it for their patients.

He said provincial distributors are welcome and interested parties may call 892-0723 or 24 or text 0917-8858786.