Hyperlipidemia, or excess levels of fats in the blood, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Many lipid-lowering agents exist for both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Consuming fish has long been thought to help protect against heart disease, possibly through reducing inflammation in blood vessels. However, study results on the effects of fish on inflammatory markers are mixed, so a team of researchers from Harokopio University set out to examine the relationship in a population-based group of men and women free of heart disease. people who eat fish tend to have lower rates of heart disease. even in people with high blood pressure or diabetes, but not high cholesterol. These results support recommendations that people eat more fish but the fish should not be fried omega-3 fatty acid supplements may be appropriate to achieve an optimal intake of 0.6 grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day. fish and fish oils help prevent cardiovascular disease including fatal and non-fatal heart attacks, strokes, sudden cardiac death, and coronary artery disease (angina). the mechanisms by which fish oils exert their protective effect include:
* Reduction in susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmia
* Decrease in platelet aggregation
* Reduction in triglyceride levels
* Retardation of atherosclerosis
* Lowering of blood pressure
* Promotion of nitric oxide induced endothelial relaxation
* Anti-inflammatory effects.
Fish and fish oils contain long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, more specifically, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Alpha-linolenic acid can be converted in the body to EPA and DHA, but not in amounts sufficient to make a significant impact. Some studies have shown that alpha-linolenic acid, on its own, may have heart-protective effects. Healthy people should consume oily fish at least twice a week. Patients with heart disease should eat enough oily fish on a daily basis to obtain about 1 gram per day of EPA and DHA combined or take a fish oil supplement providing 1 gram per day of EPA + DHA. Patients with high triglyceride levels should receive 2-4 grams/day of EPA+DHA under the care of a physician. fish oils (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) is highly effective in lowering the blood level of triglycerides. High triglyceride levels are a major risk factor for heart disease particularly in women. fish oil supplementation may increase the level of LDL-cholesterol (the “bad” kind), but that the ratio of HDL- cholesterol (the “good” kind) to LDL remains unchanged. A high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol combined with a low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is a potent risk factor for heart disease. elevated triglyceride levels are a significant and independent risk factor for a major coronary event (fatal or nonfatal heart attack or sudden cardiac death). A combination of high triglyceride levels with a high LDL level and a LDL:HDL ratio greater than 5 was found to increase risk by a factor of 6. a 1.0 mmol/L (88 mg/dL) increase in triglyceride levels increased the risk of cardiovascular disease in men by 30% and by 75% in women. high ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol is a powerful risk factor for a major cardiac event even when LDL cholesterol levels are normal. taking 8 fish oil capsules daily (providing 2.4 grams of eicosapentaenoic acid and 1.6 grams of docosahexaenoic acid) reduced triglyceride levels by about 26% and triglyceride/HDL ratio by 28% in women. a high blood level of triglycerides (triacylglycerol) is a potent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. high ratio of triacylglycerol to HDL cholesterol (high density lipoprotein cholesterol) is a more important risk factor for CVD in women than is a high LDL:HDL ratio. fish oil supplementation can reduce CVD risk factors in postmenopausal women. Obesity in patients with high blood pressure is associated with high cholesterol levels, poorer glucose control, and an increased risk of atherosclerosis and heart attacks. a weight-loss diet combined with daily fish consumption is highly effective in reducing blood pressure, lowering triglyceride levels while increasing “good” (HDL2) cholesterol levels and in improving glucose tolerance. People suffering from type II diabetes often have high blood levels of triglycerides and are therefore prone to coronary heart disease. Fish oils are known to be effective in lowering triglyceride levels, but concern has been expressed that they may also increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and be deleterious to glucose control. increase in both EPA and DHA content in blood plasma phospholipids and in red blood cell membranes after two months on the fish oil supplements. Triglyceride levels and the level of plasma lipoprotein(a) were both significantly lowered following fish oil supplementation. ish oil supplementation is effective in lowering triglyceride levels in type II diabetics and has not adverse effects on glycemic control or overall cholesterol levels. Supplementation with garlic has been shown to lower overall cholesterol levels and LDL levels significantly while fish oil supplementation is known to lower triglyceride levels. a combination of garlic and fish oil is highly effective in lowering the levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Garlic by itself did not lower triglyceride concentrations while fish oils by themselves actually increased LDL concentrations significantly (by 8.5 per cent). supplementing with garlic pills and fish oils in combination is effective in lowering blood levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides while at the same time providing a beneficial decrease in the ratios of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol and in LDL to HDL cholesterol.
blood levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins, and low density triglycerides prior to initiating supplementation with fish oil or flax seed oil. fish oil supplementation is safe in type II diabetes and can help ameliorate cardiovascular disease risk factors such as high triglyceride levels. Fish and fish oils help protect against the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease. It is believed that fish oils exert their protective effect by lowering blood pressure and the levels of triglycerides and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Fish oils are also believed to reduce platelet aggregation and to suppress the growth of smooth-muscle cells in the arterial walls. High blood levels of triglycerides and fibrinogen are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Fibrinogen is a large protein molecule which is a key factor in blood coagulation. High levels of fibrinogen aggravate the symptoms of intermittent claudication and speeds up the progression of atherosclerosis.
Tags: cardiovascular, cholesterol, diabetics, fatty acid, fish oil, heart disease, hypertension, omega-3, trygliceride
