The FDA has once again confirmed the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, this time as a preventative to coronary heart disease. A similar claim regarding foods containing EPA and DHA was proposed by the FDA back in 2000.

Common foods that contain eiscosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids include oily fish such as salmon, lake trout, tuna and herring.

Since coronary heart disease is responsible for 500,000 deaths a year in the United States, scientists hope this omega-3 finding will motivate consumers to make a concerted effort to look for these heart-healthy compounds when making their future food choices.

The FDA announced that although the research isn't conclusive, they plan to support the claim that consuming omega-3 fatty acids plays a prominent part in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.

In addition to preventing coronary heart disease, other studies have shown the benefits of these fats in the prevention of heart arrhythmia.

Study on Fish Oil Consumption and Arrhythmia

• 65 people with arrhythmia were randomly divided into two groups
• One group was given three grams of fish oil a day, while the other group was given a placebo
• The study lasted six months
• Blood tests were administered during the study and six months after the participants stopped taking the fish oil supplements
  

The Results of the Study Were Significant:

• Participants in the fish oil group had 46.9 percent, 71.8 percent and 100 percent fewer episodes of the four kinds of arrhythmia evaluated in the study
• Six months after the participants stopped taking the fish oil, any signs of improvements reversed back to where they were at the onset of the study
• The participants taking placebos showed no notable changes in arrhythmia throughout the study

Science Blog September 8, 2004

NutraIngredients.com September 10, 2004