Fish Oil May Benefit Your Arteries

According to new research published on February 5, 2009 by the American Heart Association's Journal Arteriolosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, eating fish or taking fish oils has many benefits. Researchers and Scientists from Columbia have found that a diet rich in fish oils can prevent the accumulation of fat in the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart.

Fish are known for its high content in omega-3 fatty acids, which have shown many benefits including prevention of macular eye disease, weight loss, mental illness prevention. More and more doctors are recommending to eat tuna, sardines, salmon and cold water fish since they are high in omega-3 and can lower cholesterol and triglycerides.

The new study was conducted in mice: some received a balanced diet, another group a diet a high in saturated fat diet (resembling a "Western" diet), and the other a high fish fat diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Researchers found that the omega-3 in the diet inhibited the entry of "bad," or LDL, cholesterol into arteries and, as a result, much less cholesterol collects in these vessels. They found that this is related to the ability of those fatty acids to decrease lipoprotein lipase, a molecule that traps LDL in the arterial wall. This will likely prove to be important as a new mechanism which helps explain benefits of omega-3 fatty acids on heart health.

Those interested in increasing omega-3 intakes can do it by either increasing fish intake or by using supplements that contain the "long-chain" fatty acids, EPA and DHA, which are found in cold water fish.

Source:

American Heart Association's Arteriolosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; http://atvb.ahajournals.org/