Fish Omega-3s May Render Atherosclerosis Harmless

Fish Omega-3s May Render Atherosclerosis Harmless

SOUTHAMPTON, England--New evidence that omega-3fatty acids prevent atherosclerosis was printed in the Feb. 8 issue of TheLancet (361, 9356: 477-85, 2003) (www.thelancet.com).Researchers from the University of Southampton randomly assigned 188 patients toreceive either omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, omega-6 fatty acids fromsunflower oil or placebo until surgery. Fewer plaques in patients being treatedwith fish oil had thin fibrous caps and signs of inflammation and more plaqueshad thick fibrous caps and no signs of inflammation, compared with plaques inpatients in the control and sunflower oil groups. Atherosclerotic plaquesreadily incorporated omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from fish oilsupplementation, inducing changes that can enhance stability of atheroscleroticplaques. In contrast, omega-6 PUFAs did not affect carotid plaque fatty-acidcomposition or stability over the study period. Stability of plaques couldexplain reductions in non-fatal and fatal cardiovascular events associated withincreased omega-3 PUFA intake.

"The discovery that atherosclerosis can be cured orrendered harmless, as this study indicates, is ground-breaking," said ArneT. Hostmark, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Oslo in Norway, in a pressrelease from Pronova Biocare, a supplier of omega-3 ingredients. "Strokepatients form a large patient group for whom there are few available methods oftreatment. Omega-3 fatty acids protect the blood vessels against hardening andthe formation of clots. Ensuring a daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids is a verygood investment in one's own health."