Cardiovascular Health

	“Omega-3 fatty acids are not just good fats; they affect heart health in positive ways. They make the blood less likely to form clots that cause heart attack and protect against irregular heartbeats that cause sudden cardiac death.”
	-American Heart Association

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of unsaturated fat that has been shown to reduce the rates of heart disease and death from heart disease.

Coronary heart disease is still the most common cause of death in the US, the UK, and many other countries. According to a review of Omega-3 in the prestigious journal, BMJ (British Medical Journal), the authors begin the report: “Omega 3 fatty acids from fish and fish oils can protect against coronary heart disease.”¹

The American Heart Association published a detailed report in 2002 that outlined their findings and recommendations.²  Here are some highlights:

Healthy people should eat omega-3 fatty acids from fish and plant sources to protect their hearts.

People who have elevated triglycerides may need 2 to 4 grams of EPA and DHA per day provided as a supplement.  Even the 1gram/day dose recommended for patients with existing CVD (cardiovascular disease) may be more than can readily be achieved through diet alone.  These people should consult their physician to discuss taking supplements to reduce heart disease risk.  Patients taking more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids from supplements should do so only under a physician’s care.  The FDA has noted that high intakes could cause excessive bleeding in some people.

“Omega-3 fatty acids are not just good fats; they affect heart health in positive ways,” says Penny Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., R.D., lead author of the report.  “They make the blood less likely to form clots that cause heart attack and protect against irregular heartbeats that cause sudden cardiac death.”

Although the mechanisms responsible for omega-3 fatty acids’ reduction of CVD risk are still being studied, research has shown:

• Decreased risk of sudden death and arrhythmia.
• Decreased thrombosis (blood clot).
• Decreased triglyceride levels.
• Decreased growth of atherosclerotic plaque.
• Improved arterial health.
• Lower blood pressure.

The report also discusses the benefits and risks of eating fish and taking fish supplements. One legitimate concern is the potential exposure to mercury and other contaminants.
The National Institutes of Health also speaks to the importance of a non-contaminated supply of fish and fish oil supplements. In the case of Omega-3 supplements, the National Institutes of Health recommends “It is desirable to find out whether the manufacturer tests the [Omega-3] product for contaminating substances and if the results of those tests are available.”

Many pharmaceutical grade Omega-3 supplements, such as Omega-3 Pro, undergo a rigorous purification process known as molecular distillation. Similar to the water purification process, molecular distillation traps contaminants. Omega-3 Pro does not stop there. We then have all of our batches independently tested by a reputable third party laboratory to ensure the absence of all mercury and dioxins, as the National Institutes of Health recommends. These are expensive tests but they are critical as there is no other way to guarantee 100% safety for our customers.

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References

1. Din J, Newby D, Flapan A: “Omega 3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease – fishing for a natural treatment.” BMJ. 2004: 328;30-35
2. Kris-Etherton PM, Harris WS, Appel LJ: Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Cardiovascular Disease.   Circulation.  2002 106: 2747-2757.