Omega-3 Intake Can Help Lower Blood Pressure, Study Shows
Over the past 30 years, the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA have been the subject of more than 7,000 scientific reports, many indicating that the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids leads to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a reduction in fatal heart rhythms. A new study published in the American Heart Association’s Hypertension journal touts a supporting message: Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help lower a person’s blood pressure levels.
The health benefits of omega-3s – found in fatty fish, such as trout, salmon, mackerel and tuna, and fish oil supplements, as well as canola oil, nuts and flax seeds – were initially discovered in studies involving Intuit Eskimos. This native population had low levels of heart disease and consumed quite a lot of fish.
The new Hypertension study focused on a much wider population: 4,680 men and women ages 40-59 from China, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Conducted by a group of medical doctors committed to the International Study of Macro- and Micro-nutrients and Blood Pressure (INTERMAP), the study’s main objective was to reveal the relationship between diet and blood pressure, a common concern among adults worldwide.
INTERMAP experts obtained detailed information about each participant’s dietary habits, alcohol consumption, overall health status, medical history and more. Blood pressure was measured eight times on four separate occasions. Overall, experts found that participants who ate foods rich in omega-3s had lower blood pressure levels than those who ate less of the nutrient.
The study, believed to be the first comprehensive, population-based evaluation of its kind, ultimately concluded:
- Omega-3 fatty acid intake has favorable effects on both systolic (when the heart contracts) and diastolic (when it expands) blood pressure
- The favorable effects are even greater in healthy people not diagnosed with hypertension, cardiovascular disease or another chronic disease
It is important to note, however, that increasing omega-3 intake plays only a small part when it comes to controlling your blood pressure. Restricting salt intake, maintaining a healthy weight, choosing healthy foods and exercising often also impact a person’s blood pressure and overall good health. Getting more omega-3s in your diet, in addition to following other healthy lifestyle practices, can only ensure better results.
Furthermore, all individuals are encouraged to talk to their doctors about any specific health concerns they may have. This way, those at risk for high blood pressure will have an easier time making informed dietary choices and, if desired, can increase consumption of fatty fish and fish oil supplements.
Other Heart Health ArticlesMSNBC: Red Yeast Rice, Fish Oil Fight High CholesterolFish Oil Supplements are Just as Effective in Providing Omega-3s as Eating FishTake Super CoQ-10 to HeartMore Studies Link Fish Oils to Healthy HeartThe Cardiovascular Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
