More Studies Link Fish Oils to Healthy Heart

In Europe, fish oils are a must for heart attack survivors

A large number of studies indicate that the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish body oils leads to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a reduction in fatal heart rhythms. European experts especially agree: In Europe, nearly every heart attack survivor gets a prescription for purified fish oil.

In the United States, however, this practice is not so prevalent. Instead of fish body oil, heart attack survivors are instead offered implantable defibrillators and cholesterol-lowering prescriptions; as the FDA has not yet approved prescription fish oils for heart health.

The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association’s views are more closely aligned with the European way: They suggest people prone to heart disease should consume at least one gram of omega-3 fatty acids per day by eating foods like fatty fish and flaxseed, canola and soybean oils, or by taking a high-quality omega-3 fish oil supplement.

One scientific review – which also concluded that fish oils promote heart health – actually proposed a new tool to measure cardiovascular risk: the Omega-3 Index. The Omega-3 Index calculates the levels of omega-3 fatty acids present in red blood cells compared to the presence of other fatty acids.

Its creator, William Harris of the South Dakota Health Research Foundation’s Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Research Unit, suggests one gram of omega-3s per day may not be enough for many people; as omega-3 blood levels depend on a number of factors in addition to fish oil intake, including heredity, diet and body mass index. His research shows that those with an Omega-3 Index of more than 8 percent are 40 percent less likely to die from heart disease and 90 percent less likely to experience sudden cardiac death.

While this pro-fish oil evidence demonstrates that omega-3s can indeed promote heart health, all individuals are encouraged to talk to their doctors about any individual health concerns they may have. This way, those at risk for heart disease will more easily be able to make informed dietary choices and, if desired, increase consumption of fatty fish and fish oil supplements.