According to an October 2010 article published in the journal "Nutra Ingredients," reports about the heart health benefits of ingesting fish oil and the omega-3 fatty acids they contain first appeared in the 1970s, when researchers led by Dr. Jorn Dyerberg began to publish studies in "The Lancet" and "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." To date, omega-3s have been associated with improved blood lipid levels, blood pressure, heart rate and vascular function. More recent research demonstrates their effectiveness in enhancing the effects of prescription medications.
Statins Work Better
Statins are a class of drugs prescribed to lower cholesterol levels. The most commonly prescribed brands are Levacor, Zocor, Pravachol, Lipitor and Crestor. They are standard drugs used by physicians in treating heart patients. Researchers reporting in the January 2011 issue of the "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition" tested whether administering omega-3s along with statins enhanced their ability to improve lipid profiles and heart health. Six weeks of statin plus omega-3 therapy not only improved cholesterol levels, but also reduced blood levels of triglycerides by 41 percent, compared to 13.9 percent in the group receiving only statins.
Hearts Beat Stronger
A team of scientists reporting in the April 2011 issue of the journal "Heart Rhythm" recruited 133 patients who were taking prescription medication for congestive heart failure. They were randomly divided into two groups and administered either 2 g of omega-3 fish oil or a placebo every day for one year. The researchers then compared the heart pumping capacity of the participants' left ventricle using echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Pumping capacity in the left ventricle increased by 10.4 percent in the omega-3 group compared with a 5 percent decline in the placebo group.
Exercise and Hospitalizations
Not surprisingly, the stronger beating hearts of the omega-3 group improved their ability to efficiently distribute oxygen and raised their endurance for exercise. Peak VO2 is the maximum amount of oxygen the heart can provide muscles during sustained exercise. Peak VO2 improved 6.2 percent in the omega-3 group compared with a 4.8 percent decline in the placebo group. Exercise duration increased by 7.5 percent, in contrast to a 4.8 percent decline in the placebo group. Most notably, hospitalizations related to their heart failure occurred in 6 percent of the fish oil group as opposed to 30 percent in the placebo group.
Prescription Strength Omega-3s
Given the abundance of scientific research reporting on the heart health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, it's not surprising that a prescription-only version is now being sold. The name of the drug is LOVAZA and it's the first FDA approved medication made from omega-3 fish oil. The active omega-3s shown to lower high triglycerides are EPA and DHA. A 1 g capsule of LOVAZA contains 465 mg EPA and 375 mg DHA. According to the drug's manufacturer, it could take up to 14 capsules per day of an omega-3 supplement to provide the same amount of active ingredients.
References
- Nutra; Omega-3 Plus Statins Effective for Enhanced Blood Lipid Control: Study; Stephen Daniells; October 2010
- "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Prospective Randomized Comparison Between Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements Plus Simvastatin Versus Simvastatin Alone in Korean Patients with Mixed Dyslipidemia: Lipoprotein Profiles and Heart Rate Variability; Shu Kim, et al.; January 2011
- "Heart Rhythm"; Atrial Protective Effects of N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: a Long-term Study in Ovine Chronic Heart Failure; Dou Lau, et al.; April 2011
- VivaCare: Lovaza
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