Fish oil & heart health

MANILA, Philippines - Today’s diet continues to translate to an increasing number of people suffering from hypertension and other heart-related illnesses.

Currently, cardiovascular diseases rank among the top causes of death among Filipinos, and what’s more alarming is there’s a growing number of sufferers not even hitting the age of 40 yet.

Cardiologist Dr. Eugenio Reyes, who is also a clinical associate professor of the Department of Medicine of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine in Manila, said natural oils found in fish have been discovered to be one of the keys in keeping a healthy heart.

Fish oil, which naturally contains Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA), is needed by the body to facilitate metabolism of fats to be used as source of energy, and most importantly aids the heart and the blood vessels for better blood circulation. They are called essential fatty acids because the body cannot produce them and they are primarily derived from fish oil.

Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of oily fish. Fish does not actually produce DHA/EPA fatty acids, but instead accumulate them from consuming micro-algae that produce these fatty acids.

“Clinical trials done by doctors around the world, particularly in Italy, have proven that fish oil is good for one’s health,” said Reyes, who earned his medical degree from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila-College of Medicine in Manila.

“It has many health benefits especially in the prevention of heart diseases or heart attacks, thanks to the presence of DHA/EPA,” he said. 

Cenovis Fish Oil is rich in Omega 3 Marine Cardio Protectors, which contain essential DPA/EPA.

Myrna Lim, brand manager of Cenovis Fish Oil, said that compared to other commercially available fish oil capsules that came from large fish like shark, seals as well as cod liver oil, Cenovis Fish Oil comes from the wild — small DHA/EPA-rich fish like sardines, mackerel, and herring that have shorter life span, making them less exposed to water pollutants.

She added that Cenovis Fish Oil, which is an all-natural fish supplement is odorless and has no fishy aftertaste as it was extracted from the Peruvian waters, one of the cleanest seas in the world.

Lim said they initially registered their product as a food supplement with the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) to make it immediately available in the market.

Eventually the company is planning to have the product registered as an RX drug. “We are coming out with a prescription which usually takes two years to get approved,” she said.

Based on their studies, Lim said the recommended dietary allowance for DHA/EPA is 500 to 1,800 mg per day, which is equivalent to one capsule of Cenovis Fish Oil (costing P9.75) a day after eating.