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Fatty Fish May Reduce
Men's Heart Failure RiskOne portion of fatty fish per week may reduce a man's risk of heart failure,
according to important new research from the US and Sweden. The key
cardiovascular benefits appear linked to the Omega-3 content of the fish,
report researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC)
and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden in the European Heart Journal. The
highest intake of marine Omega-3 Fatty Acids linked to a reduction in the
risk of heart failure of 33 per cent. Interestingly, larger intakes did not appear
to offer any additional benefit.
Previous research has demonstrated that fatty fish and Omega-3 fatty acids
help to combat risk factors for a range of heart-related conditions, such as
lowering triglycerides [fats in the blood] reducing blood pressure, heart rate
and heart rate variability.
Omega-3 fatty acids, most importantly DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA
(eicosapentaenoic acid), have been linked to a wide-range of health benefits,
including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and certain cancers.
They are also beneficial for proper development of a baby during pregnancy,
joint health, as well as improved behaviour and mood.
The new study is said to be one of the largest studies to investigate the association
between fatty fish and omega-3 intake, and heart failure: Almost 40,000 Swedish
men between the ages of 45 and 79 were followed between 1998 and 2004.
Heart failure, which arises when the heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet
the body's needs, is the leading cause of hospitalization among the over 65 group,
and is characterized by such symptoms as fatigue and weakness, difficulty walking,
rapid or irregular heartbeat, and persistent cough or wheezing.
According to the researchers, consuming one portion of fatty fish per week could
offer benefits for men by reducing the risk of developing heart failure by 12 per cent,
compared with men who ate no fatty fish.
The researchers analyzed data from 39,367 middle-aged and older Swedish men
with no previous history of heart disease or diabetes. During the course of the study,
597 men developed heart failure, and 34 men died.
In addition to the trend for a reduced risk of heart failure for men who ate one portion
of fish per week, men who consumed approximately 0.36 grams per day of omega-3
fatty acids were 33 per cent less likely to develop heart failure than the men who
consumed little or no marine omega-3 fatty acids. The study further reinforces the
current recommendations for moderate consumption of fatty fish.
Current guidelines from the American Heart Association recommend eating fatty fish
twice a week. The study was funded by the Swedish Foundation for International
Cooperation in Research and Higher Education, and the National Heart, Lung and
Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.
Source: European Heart Journal
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