Heart Health!

Thank you to Dr Steve Chaney for today's timely healthy post!

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Since today is Valentine's Day, it is only appropriate
that that I should focus on the heart.

I came across a very interesting study recently that
shows that when young women consumed a fish-rich diet
high in omega-3 fatty acids they were significantly
less likely to develop cardiovascular problems over the
next several years (M Strom et al, Hypertension, 59:
36-43, 2012).

The investigators analyzed the data from 49,000
pregnant Danish women between 15 and 49.

The women were asked about their dietary behaviors at
the time that they were enrolled into the Danish
National Health System database and at several
intervals over the next year.

The study then looked at hospital admissions for heart
related problems over the next 8 years and compared
that to the dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

The results were striking!

When the investigators looked at the dietary intake of
omega-3-rich fish at the time of enrollment they found
that the group with the lowest omega-3 fatty acid
intake was almost twice as likely to develop
cardiovascular disease.

Of course, a single diet recall could be influenced by
many temporary factors, so the investigators
strengthened their analysis by obtaining dietary intake
data three different times over a 30-week period.

And when they compared those women who had consistently
low omega-3 intake with those who had consistently high
omega-3 intake the increase in cardiovascular risk was
almost three-fold!

So what is the bottom line for you?

1) This study is consistent with many other studies
showing that omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart.

What makes this study unique is that it shows that the
heart health benefits of omega-3s occur even in young
women. Most of the previous studies have been done with
men and women who were over 50.

2) This study was done with young women, but there is
no reason not to expect the same benefit of omega-3s in
young men.

3) This study was only done with fish because very few
Danes take fish oil supplements, but other studies have
shown that fish and fish oil supplements have similar
heart health benefits.

So celebrate this Valentine's Day with a nice fish
dinner. Your heart will thank you!


To Your Health!
Dr. Stephen G Chaney