ATHENS, Greece—Moderate fish consumption offered significant protection against the development of heart muscle problems in patients who have acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in a new study from the Institute of Food Technologists (DOI:10.1111/j.1750-3841.2009.01425.x). Researchers say the cause can be attributed to fish’s beneficial effect on the oxidation process and endothelial function. Endothelial cells line the inside of blood vessels.
During 2006 to 2009, 934 ACS patients were included in the study; 437 patients who developed left ventricular systolic dysfunction, 347 men and 90 women, and 497 patients with preserved systolic function, 388 male and 109 female. Multi-adjusted analysis revealed moderate fish consumption was associated with 53 percent lower likelihood of developing left ventricular systolic dysfunction, compared to no/rare consumption, after adjustment for various confounding factors. Moderate fish consumption was associated with lower values of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (P=0.05) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P=0.02) in patients who did not develop left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
