Further Research on the Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acid

There is little to debate about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids anymore. The American Heart Association has confirmed that omega-3 fatty acids promote heart health in healthy people as well as those with cardiovascular disease. By allowing oxygen flow into our cells. In addition to lowering blood pressure, omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to decrease the risk of abnormal heartbeats and triglyceride levels, A recent European study, published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology: Journal of the American Heart Association, has provided further evidence for the benefits of omega-3s. The study suggests that patients with existing coronary artery disease who supplemented with fish oil after a stent placement have a reduced risk of heart problems. In the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the patients who received a blood-thinning medication with omega-3 fatty acids produced less clot-promoting thrombin and had larger pores, which makes existing clots easier to degrade, than those only receiving the blood-thinning medication.

A clear explanation of how omega-3 fatty acids affect blood clots has not been verified; however, doctors suspect it is due to their antioxidant properties. I suspect it is also due to the fact that omega 3 oils also decrease the stickiness of the platelets. It is important to note that they do not take away the body’s ability to form clots, which is crucial in order to heal wounds; rather, they simply boost the body’s ability to break the clot up.

Fish oil is making its way to the forefront of preventative treatments, and not just for their well-studied effects on heart health. Studies have linked fish oil supplements to a decreased risk of postpartum depression, age-related macular degeneration, Alzheimers, muscular degeneration in cancer patients, and the list continues. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that cannot be produced by our bodies and are therefore one of the nutrients that we must get from our diet. I use 1 tbs of Lemon flavored cod liver oil (3300mg Omega 3) with every patient. I believe that prevention has a 100% cure rate and fish oil is one part of my prevention program.

Cynthia Bye, ND
http://www.cynthiabye.com

Research continues to show benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids.