Omega-3 Benefit Heart

BOSTON—Fish oil fatty acids again demonstrated beneficial effects on coronary heart disease (CHD), according to a study out of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Medical School (Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87(6):1978-80). Subjects with implanted cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) at high risk for fatal ventricular arrhythmias were randomly assigned to four 1 g/d capsules of either an ethyl ester concentrate of omega–3 fatty acids or olive oil for 12 months. Subjects receiving supplemental omega–3s had significantly higher levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in their red blood cell membranes, showed a longer time to first ICD events and had a significantly lower relative risk of having an ICD event or probable event (P=0.033).