32 essential fatty acids

Established Cardiovascular
Benefits of Omega-3 EPA/DHA
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present in high concentrations in the Inuits’ blood: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic
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T
oday, “omega-3 fatty acids” is
a household term, with a recent
survey showing that 88% of
consumers surveyed have heard of
omega-3.2 That huge spike in awareness is
directly related to the mountain of research
published on omega-3 during the past 40
years, which has identified at least seven
different ways that EPA and DHA promote
cardiovascular wellness.
www.nutraceuticalmag.com May/June 2009
Reduced Triglycerides
Most fats in food, as well as in the
body, occur in the form of triglycerides.
Triglycerides provide an important source
of fuel between meals; however, elevated
triglycerides may increase the likelihood
of developing coronary artery disease.
Triglyceride levels below 150 mg/dL are
considered to be normal, with levels 150–
199 mg/dL considered to be borderline
high and levels
above 200 mg/dL
considered to be
high. It may seem
counterintuitive
that ingesting
one type of fat
could lower the
levels of another in
the bloodstream.
However, human
clinical trials
show that fish oil
supplements supplying omega-3 EPA/
DHA can, on average, lower triglycerides
by about 25–30% in hyperlipidemic
(excessive amounts of fats in the blood)
subjects. In a 2008 meta-analysis, which
reviewed 47 randomized trials, researchers
concluded: “Fish oil supplementation
produces a clinically significant dose-
dependent reduction of fasting blood
triglycerides.” 3 Lovaza, formerly Omacor,
a highly refined form of fish oil, is an
FDA-approved prescription medication for
reducing very high triglycerides that is 46%
EPA and 38% DHA.
Lowered Blood Pressure
As blood travels through the arteries, it
creates pressure against the artery walls.
Normal blood pressure is anything below
120 (systolic) or higher than 80 (diastolic)
mmHg. Doctors get concerned when blood
pressures enter the range of 120–139
over 80–89 mmHg. And, readings of 140
over 90 or higher are considered to be
high. High blood pressure can damage the
blood vessels and organs, and may lead
to coronary heart disease, heart failure and
stroke. Fish oil has been shown to cause
significant improvements in blood pressure.
A 1993 meta-analysis found that the mean
reduction in blood pressure attributed
to fish oil consumption was -3.0/-1.5
mmHg. 4 The higher the dose of omega-3,
the more notable the drop in blood
pressure. Significantly, researchers noted
that the hypotensive effect appeared to
be strongest in hypertensive patients and

those with clinical atherosclerotic disease
or hypercholesterolemia — in other words,
the people who most needed a drop in
blood pressure.
Regulated Heartbeat
Arrhythmia is an abnormal or irregular
heartbeat. Most arrhythmias are minor.
However, in some people, arrhythmia can
lead to heart disease, stroke or sudden
cardiac death. Omega-3 EPA/DHA
supplementation has been shown to reduce
the frequency of irregular heartbeats. A
2005 meta-analysis, which reviewed results
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from 30 randomized, double-blind, placebo-
controlled human clinical trials, found that
in studies with a baseline heart rate of 69
beats per minute (bmp) or greater, fish oil
produced an average decrease in heart
rate of 2.5 bpm.5 Interestingly, fish oil only
exerted its heart rate-lowering effects in
populations with a faster-than-normal heart
essential fatty acids
rate. In trials with a baseline heart rate of
less than 69 bpm — about average for an
adult male — fish oil did not lower heart rate
further. The researchers concluded: “These
findings provide firm evidence that fish oil
consumption directly or indirectly affects
cardiac electrophysiology in humans.”
Reduced Risk of
Sudden Cardiac Death
Although sudden cardiac death has
received less attention than heart attack,
it is responsible for about half of all deaths
from coronary heart disease in the United
States.6 It occurs when the heart abruptly
stops functioning owing to a malfunction of
its electrical system, as opposed to a heart
attack, which is caused by the blockage of
blood flow in one or more coronary arteries.
Several studies indicate that omega-3 EPA/
DHA is associated with a lower risk of
sudden cardiac death. The Italian GISSI-
33
Prevenzione study found that among
patients who had recently survived a heart
attack, omega-3 EPA/DHA supplementation
reduced the risk of sudden cardiac death by
46.7% after just 4 months compared with
a placebo.7 Fish oil’s protective ability does
not appear to be limited to those with a
history of cardiovascular disease, however.
The Physicians Health Study, which followed
apparently healthy men for 11 years, found
that those who ate just one fish meal per
week had a 48% reduction in risk of sudden
cardiac death compared with men who
rarely ate fish.8 A separate article, which
compared blood levels of omega-3 among
men who had died of sudden cardiac
death with controls matched for age and
smoking status, found that participants with
the highest blood levels of omega-3 EPA/
DHA had a 90% risk reduction for sudden
cardiac death compared with those with the
lowest levels.9
Decreased Inflammation
For years, high cholesterol, triglycerides
and blood pressure were considered to be
the primary risk factors for heart disease.
Recently, however, another biomarker
was identified that may be even more
important than the traditional risk factors:
May/June 2009 www.nutraceuticalmag.com
34 essential fatty acids

C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of largest cause of death in the United States
References
systemic inflammation in the body. One after heart disease and cancer. 17 Evidence
 3 $ANIELLS h4HE )NVENTOR OF /MEGA
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study found that women with high CRP is mounting that people who consume WWWFOODNAVIGATORCOM  .OVEMBER  
levels had double the risk of dying from fish regularly have greater protection  % 3LOAN h%MERGING (EALTH AND 7ELLNESS -ARKETS
heart disease or stroke than those with from stroke than fish abstainers. A study (EALTH #ONCERNS AND 0RODUCT )NTERESTS OF "OOMERS
high cholesterol.10 Several studies have published in the Journal of the American (ISPANICS AND #HILDREN 2EVEAL THE 5P
AND
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demonstrated a fish oil-CRP link. The Medical Association in 2001 examined the
 3EPTEMBER   AVAILABLE ONLINE AT
ATTICA trial found that people who ate fish relationship between fish and omega-3
WWWTHEFREELIBRARYCOM
once a week had 33% lower CRP levels intake with risk of stroke as part of the  '$ %SLICK ET AL h"ENElTS OF &ISH /IL
than non-fish eaters.11 How does eating Nurses’ Health Study. The study followed 3UPPLEMENTATION IN (YPERLIPIDEMIA ! 3YSTEMATIC
fish lower inflammation? The omega-3 fatty nearly 80,000 women for 14 years, finding 2EVIEW AND -ETA
!NALYSISv )NT * #ARDIOL 0UBLISHED
acid, EPA, which is abundant in cold- that compared with women who ate fish ONLINE  3EPTEMBER  
 -# -ORRIS ET AL h$OES &ISH /IL ,OWER "LOOD 0RESSURE
water fatty fish, regulates the effects of one to three times per month, those who
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the pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acid, ate fish five or more times per week cut
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arachidonic acid (ARA), which is found in their risk of stroke by 52%. 18 The GISSI-  $ -OZAFFARIAN ET AL h%FFECT OF &ISH /IL ON (EART 2ATE
meat, eggs and dairy products. Fish oil Prevenzione trial also found that long- IN (UMANS ! -ETA
!NALYSIS OF 2ANDOMIZED #ONTROLLED
capsules have been shown to improve term supplementation with one gram of 4RIALSv #IRCULATION 112  n  
ARA:EPA ratios in healthy people as well as omega-3 EPA/DHA daily was beneficial for  !MERICAN (EART !SSOCIATION h3UDDEN #ARDIAC
$EATHv WWWAMERICANHEARTORGPRESENTER
in patients with coronary artery disease.12 the prevention of stroke in patients who
JHTMLIDENTIlER
The landmark JELIS trial, which studied the had recently had a heart attack. 19
drug Epadel (98% pure EPA), found that
 0OLYUNSATURATED &ATTY !CIDS !FTER
a more balanced ARA:EPA ratio reduced
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major coronary events.13
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As research continues to accumulate 3OPRAVVIVENZA NELL )NFARTO -IOCARDICO ')33)
0REVENZIONEv #IRCULATION 105  n  
Slowed Build-Up of in favour of the role that omega-3 EPA/
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Atherosclerotic Plaque DHA can play in promoting cardiovascular
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Atherosclerosis is characterized by the health, the popularity of omega-3 fish  #- !LBERT ET AL h"LOOD ,EVELS OF ,ONG
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build-up of plaque inside the arterial oil supplements and fortified foods has !CIDS AND THE 2ISK OF 3UDDEN $EATHv . %NGL * -ED
wall. The plaque causes the arteries to exploded. Ocean Nutrition Canada (ONC) 346  n  
narrow, which restricts blood flow and is a leading global supplier of omega-3 EPA  !SSOCIATED 0RESS53!4ODAY h3TUDY )NmAMMATION 4WICE
AS "AD AS #HOLESTEROL FOR THE (EARTv  .OVEMBER 
oxygen supply to the heart. The real and DHA ingredients from fish oil. Its pure,
WWWUSATODAYCOMNEWSHEALTH


HEART

danger, however, is when this arterial high-quality MEG-3 omega-3 EPA/DHA is
INmAMMATION?XHTM 
plaque ruptures, as it may lead to heart available as MEG-3 fish oil concentrates  ! :AMPELAS ET AL h&ISH #ONSUMPTION !MONG
attack and the formation of stroke- for dietary supplements and MEG-3 (EALTHY !DULTS IS !SSOCIATED WITH $ECREASED ,EVELS
inducing blood clots. Several studies powder for functional foods. Thanks to OF )NmAMMATORY -ARKERS 2ELATED TO #ARDIOVASCULAR
have found that fish oil slows the build- ONC’s patented microencapsulation $ISEASE 4HE !44)#! 3TUDYv * !M #OLL #ARDIOL 46 
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up of atherosclerotic plaque — and may technology, Powder-loc, MEG-3 Omega-3
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even reverse it. A recent German study powder allows a wide range of food
3UPPLEMENTATION ON THE !RACHIDONIC !CID
reported that increased supplementation products to benefit from the goodness %ICOSAPENTAENOIC !CID 2ATIOv 0HARMACOTHERAPY 27 
with EPA is successful in the primary and of fish, without the taste of fish. To date, n  
secondary prevention of atherosclerosis. 14 MEG-3 ingredients have been included in  - 9OKOYAMA ET AL h%FFECTS OF %ICOSAPENTAENOIC !CID ON
And, a double-blind clinical trial found more than 40 billion servings of food and -AJOR #ORONARY %VENTS IN (YPERCHOLESTEROLAEMIC 0ATIENTS
that when people with pre-existing supplement products worldwide, from *%,)3  ! 2ANDOMISED /PEN
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atherosclerosis supplemented with fish oil, pizza to peanut butter and from margarine
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they experienced significant regression of to milk. !RTERIOSCLEROSISv %RNËHRUNG  -EDIZIN 18  n
atherosclerotic plaques and reduced their  
risk of heart attack and stroke compared  # VON 3CHACKY ET AL h4HE %FFECT OF $IETARY /MEGA

with those who took a placebo. 15 &ATTY !CIDS ON #ORONARY !THEROSCLEROSIS ! 2ANDOMIZED
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Reduced Risk of Stroke  .ATIONAL )NSTITUTE OF .EUROLOGICAL $ISORDERS AND 3TROKE
The human brain can go without oxygen h.).$3 #EREBRAL (YPOXIA )NFORMATION 0AGEv UPDATED
for 5 minutes before brain cells start to For more information  -AY  WWWNINDSNIHGOVDISORDERSANOXIA
die. Strokes can cause permanent brain ,ORI #OVERT ANOXIAHTM 
damage because, when a blood clot gets 60 -ARKETING AND #OMMUNICATIONS  !MERICAN (EART !SSOCIATION h3TROKE 3TATISTICSv WWW
caught in a vessel leading to the brain, /CEAN .UTRITION #ANADA ,IMITED AMERICANHEARTORGPRESENTERJHTMLIDENTIlER
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the brain’s oxygen supply gets cut off. 16
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As a matter of public health concern, Tel. +1 902 480 3200  2 -ARCHIOLI ET AL h%FlCACY OF N
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strokes do not get as much attention as lcovert@ocean-nutrition.com &ATTY !CIDS !FTER -YOCARDIAL )NFARCTION 2ESULTS OF ')33)

heart attacks; however, stroke is the third www.ocean-nutrition.com 0REVENZIONE 4RIALv ,IPIDS 363UPPL  3n  

www.nutraceuticalmag.com May/June 2009

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