Omega-3 Fatty Acids Enhance Heart Health

Omega-3 fatty acid intake of greater than 250 mg per day supports cardiovascular health, according to researchers. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids, meaning they are essential in the diet because the body cannot synthesize them.

Investigators analyzed data from eight prospective studies that evaluated the correlation between dosages of omega-3 fatty acids intake and the health of the coronary arteries, which are the blood vessels that provide the heart muscle with blood.  These vessels can become inflexible over time, resulting in suboptimal blood flow to the heart, which affects its ability to pump blood.

The results of the meta-analysis showed that compared to intake of omega-3 fatty acids of less than 250 mg daily, intake of greater than or equal to 250 mg per day of omega-3 fatty acids results in a significant reduction of suboptimal heart health. In fact, the data revealed a 35.1 percent reduction in suboptimal heart health in the subjects with intake of greater than or equal to 250 mg per day omega-3 fatty acids, compared to subjects with lower intake. They also showed a 16.6 percent reduction in suboptimal heart health in the subjects with the higher omega-3 fatty acid intake.

The researchers also report that in U.S. studies, there is a dose-relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and coronary artery health, meaning increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids correlates with more optimal coronary artery health. Studies from Japan, where the intake of fish containing omega-3 fatty acids is more common, indicate that intake of omega-3 fatty acids of 900 to 1,000 mg per day and greater may enhance blood supply to the coronary arteries and heart muscle.

The researchers concluded, “Thus, the intake of 250 mg omega-3 long-chain fatty acids per day may, indeed, be a minimum target to be achieved by the general population for the promotion of cardiovascular health.”

Reference:

Musa-Veloso K, Binns MA, Kocenas A, Chung C, Rice H, Oppedal-Olsen H, Lloyd H, Lemke S. Impact of low v. moderate intakes of long-chain n-3 fatty acids on risk of coronary heart disease. Br J Nutr. 2011 May 31. Published Online Ahead of Print.