JACC: Eating more Omega-3 fatty acids improves myocardial outcomes The role of different ingredients promotes new understanding

The study used blood analysis to show that regular eating of foods rich in omega-3 was associated with improved health outcomes in patients with omega-3, and that the two subtypes of omega-3, ALA (α-flaxic acid) and EPA (20 carbon-five oleic acid), may have synergistic effects. The JACC editorial, published at the same time as
, said that the biology of omega-3 fatty acids is complex and that our understanding of omega-3 fatty acids is evolving as more research is carried out, including this well-designed and novel study.
screenshot Source: Journal of The American College of Cardiology This large-scale, forward-looking observational study included 944 patients who experienced STEMI and were treated with coronary artery intervention.
is a very serious type of heart attack, the heart's main artery blockage, due to poor prognosis, often described as a "widow maker."
patients were 61 years old on average, and 78 percent were male.
during their hospitalization, the researchers took blood samples and measured blood omega-3 levels using a gas chromatography method -- a reliable reflection of their omega-3 intake in the weeks leading up to the heart attack.
results were more accurate than the dietary questionnaires used in the usual nutritional epidemiological studies.
Unlike most studies looking at omega-3, which focuses on fish oil composition, this study also analyzed omega-3 components from marine oily fish and plant sources , EPA and ALA, which are commonly found in foods such as walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds, and soybeans.
the next three years, the researchers followed up on the post-heart infarction complications in these patients.
211 patients had major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), 108 deaths and 130 re-hospitalizations for cardiovascular problems.
statistical analysis showed that after adjusting for factors such as age, sex, and combined disease history, people with higher levels of EPA in the blood three years ago (first 1/3) had a significant 24% lower risk of MACE and a significant 26% reduction in the risk of re-hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons.
Risk of REPA content and re-hospitalization for vascular causes in the blood (A), EPA content and MACE risk (B), ALA content and all-cause risk of death (C) (Photo Source: Reference: Reference 1) It is worth noting that the effects of EPA and ALA on different outcomes suggest that the mechanisms of action may be non-competitive and complementary.
, the team suggests that the two could be combined as cardiovascular health dietary supplements.
also echoes a large-scale study recently led by harvard medical school scholars that shed light on differences in the effects of different omega-3 components on the cardiovascular system.
the encouraging findings have gained industry recognition, although observational studies have failed to prove causation.
in an editorial published in the same journal JACC, several experts at Harvard Medical School and the University of California, Los Angeles, said the results of a large number of observational studies show the benefits of omega-3, demonstrating that high-purity EPA prescription ingredients can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk. The IT study "opens a new era in the use of omega-3 ingredients for cardiovascular prevention", and while omega-3 dietary supplements cannot be equal to prescription drugs, it makes sense to recommend that people increase their intake of foods rich in omega-3, including different subsepes.
, although the conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA through diet is inefficient, the independent benefits observed in this study suggest that attention is paid to this dietary component.
, "although this study included STEMI patients, the results may apply to all patients with atherosclerosis or who are already at high risk."
" References to Iolanda Lázaro, et al., (2020). Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Event Adverses in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol. DOI: (2) Deepak L. Bhatt, et al., (2020). A Revolution in Omega-3 Fatty Acid Research. J Am Coll Cardiol, DOI: s3 s new study shows food rich in omega-3 EPA and ALA can reduce risk of death after heart attack. Retrieved October 28, 2020, from [4] Higher Serum Omega-3 Tied to Better Outcome After STEMI. Retrieved October 28, 2020, from