People with heart failure should consider taking fish oil supplements or eating lots of oily fish to reduce their risk of hospitalization and death, according to clinicians. Multiple medical studies have shown benefits in cardiovascular disease patients, including those with heart failure, from consuming the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil.
History
When early explorers first encountered the Eskimos, they were surprised at the very low incidence of heart failure and cardiovascular disease, because the Eskimos consumed a very high fat diet. When researchers looked more closely, though, they realized that the bulk of the fats in the Eskimo diet were from fish oil, and they realized that fish oil protected against heart failure and other types of heart disease.
Significance
Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have a wide variety of health benefits for the cardiovascular system. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of hospitalization and death in heart failure. They also lower tryglycerides, reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, and lower blood pressure slightly, according to the Mayo Clinic. Fish oil contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Expert Insight
Heart failure patients can consume fish oil by eating oily fish twice a week or more. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends this approach, and notes that oily fish include mackerel, herring, sardines, salmon, albacore tuna and lake trout. However, heart failure patients also might want to consider taking fish oil supplements, since they might not get enough fish oil from dietary sources alone, the AHA says.
Benefits
There is fairly strong evidence showing that fish oil helps counter heart failure. In a 2008 study published in the medical journal "Lancet," clinicians reported on nearly 7,000 heart failure patients in Italy. Half took fish oil and half received a placebo. Slightly fewer patients in the fish oil group died or were admitted to the hospital over the course of the four-year study, leading the researchers to conclude that fish oil treatment provides a small advantage to heart failure patients.
Considerations
Fish can contain high levels of mercury and other environmental contaminants, and many experts warn patients not to consume too much of it. The AHA recommends eating about 6 oz. per week. In addition, taking too many fish oil supplements can be dangerous: the AHA recommends that heart failure and other cardiovascular patients not take more than 3g of omega-3 fatty acids from capsules per day unless they first consult with their physician.
