Fish oil is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. These types of omega-3s are found only in oily fish and marine algae and are the most potent all the omega-3s. The main benefits associated with these fatty acids are protection from heart disease, anti-inflammatory properties, improved brain function and protection from cancer.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis refers to a degenerative condition of the arteries, commonly referred to as hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis occurs when fatty material such as cholesterol accumulates in the arterial wall without adequate removal. The cholesterol-carrier molecules responsible for this deposition are low-density lipoproteins, or LDL. The carrier molecules that take cholesterol out of the arteries are the high-density lipoproteins, or HDL. As a result of hardened arteries, high blood pressure often develops. Moreover, arteries may get totally occluded and cause a heart attack, or they may cause a clot to form that travels in the bloodstream and causes a stroke.
Fish Oil and Lipid Levels
The March 2008 issue of "Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy" reports that although omega-3 consumption does not have a significant effect on LDL and HDL levels, it does lower triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood and associated with an increased coronary heart disease risk. The mechanisms behind this effect include making LDL cholesterol more prone to be deposited in the artery walls and lowering HDL levels. Lowering triglyceride levels is one of the ways fish oil consumption helps to protect from heart disease.
Artery Thickness
A study reported in the March 2007 issue of "Atherosclerosis" investigated the effect of EPA supplementation on arterial thickness in 81 Japanese Type 2 diabetics. EPA is one of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. The study found that after two years of supplementing 1,800 mg EPA per day, the study group had decreased arterial thickness, while in the control group arterial thickness continued to increase. These findings indicate that EPA consumption can reverse the effects of atherosclerosis.
Arterial Elasticity
Elastic arteries help to even out the flow from the heart so there are no big changes in pressure and flow during the pumping and the nonpumping phases. If the arteries are inelastic, the heart will have to work harder to push the blood around the body. The June 2006 issue of "European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation" reports that omega-3 supplementation at 2.4 g per day increased arterial elasticity in hyperlipidemic men.
References
- "Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy"; Prescription Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Their Lipid Effects: Physiologic Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Implications; H.E. Bays, et al.; March 2008
- "Atherosclerosis"; Eicosapentaenoic Acid Reduces the Progression of Carotid Intima-media Thickness in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes; T. Mita, et al.; March 2007
- "European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation"; Effect of Diet or Very Long Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Progression of Atherosclerosis, Evaluated by Carotid Plaques, Intima-media Thickness and by Pulse Wave Propagation in Elderly Men With Hypercholesterolaemia; E.M. Hjerkinn, et al.; June 2006
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