I’m curious if anyone has any hard info on fish oil to see if it acutally dose work to fight cardiovascular disease?

Fish oil, dose it work?

I’m curious if anyone has any hard info on fish oil to see if it acutally dose work to fight cardiovascular disease?

Thanks Doug thats perfect

Cheers matey

Its not the presence of fish, it is the absence of stuff

I have not researched this area thoroughly enough, but it would also make sense that it is the absence of other things in the diet of those who choose to eat more fish, rather than the presence of fish by itself that might contribute to “improvements” in things like triglicerides in patients who choose to adhere to a cerain diet or take a supplement.
Once again, this is just an opinion, but it seems to me that patients who choose to modify their lifestyle in any way benefit tremendously from whatever the food additive/vitamin/supplement they choose to add to their diet (Especially if they also exercise, lose weight, and eat less in general). I am not aware of any adverse effects of consuming fish oil, omega 3 or anything in that category, but I would rather recommend a person walks a little more and eats a little less than take any form of supplement.

Here are a few exaples of quotes from abstracts that I have read on the subject:
“Because of the suboptimal quality of the studies included into the meta-analysis and the absence of data in patients receiving statins, these results do not justify adding fish oils systematically to the heavy pharmaceutical assortment already recommended in CHD patients.”- Am J Prev Med. 2005 Nov;29(4):347-52.

“This meta-analysis shows that consumption of ALA might reduce heart disease mortality. However, the association between high intake of ALA and prostate cancer is of concern and warrants further study.” -J Nutr. 2004 Apr;134(4):919-22.

And probably the most famous of these meta-analyses—-
“There was no difference in summary estimates between dietary and non-dietary interventions of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for all endpoints. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that dietary and non-dietary intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces overall mortality, mortality due to myocardial infarction, and sudden death in patients with coronary heart disease.” - Am J Med. 2002 Mar;112(4):298-304.  - Note - here, the fact that there is no difference b/w dietary and non-dietary interventions is especially suspicious since dietery interventions are historically prone to low yield results (See latest JAMA diet studies, where weight loss is marginal and temporary even for those who choose to adhere to the diet)

Some stuff on it. All I have heard and read it is one of the “super foods” Very good on many areas in reasonable amounts. All the experts I have heard promote eating actual deep sea fish rather than taking supplements.

Fish Oil Holds Promise In Alzheimer’s Fight

Fish Oil and Heart Disease

Fish Oil Capsules

Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid

Fish oil may preserve thinking ability in elderly

Omega-3 Boosts Grey Matter, May Explain Improved Moods

Alzheimer’s Advance: Omega-3 fatty acid benefits mice

Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Prevent Heart Disease By Improving Arterial Elasticity

Science Friday Meet Omega-3 (November 3, 2006, Hour Two)

Does this all look a bit too much like spam?

EXACTLY!!!

That’s exactly my point. The reason eating fish is recommended, because no one eats fish for dinner and then downs their “usual” meal (a burger and a coke, or something else that’s “not good for you”). That could explain why actual consumption would be recommended over a supplement.

I don’t like it, it doesn’t taste like chicken

Fish Oil has been found in numerous studies to help with cognitive processes, fighting inflammation, help fight cardiovascular disease, etc…

Here is a page on Fish Oil—http://www.jigsawhealth.com/products/omega_3_fish_oil.html

Are you asking this question because you do not take Fish Oil???  If so you should!!!

Benefits include:
  * Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
  * Support cardiovascular health and normal heart function.
  * Improve cognitive and behavioral performance.
  * Regulate blood pressure.
  * Relax blood vessels to keep blood flowing smoothly.
  * Maintain healthy blood lipid, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels.
  * Reduce pain and swelling.
  * Ease digestive and allergic symptoms.
  * Increase growth hormone levels and promote muscle growth.
  * Relieve mood swings for better emotional well-being.

The more you read about Fish Oil, the more it seems that you should be taking it.  Try to find a Fish Oil without the gross fish aftertaste—that can be upsetting to your stomach.

Give it a try!

I agree, Karla.  I enjoy salmon but don’t have it nearly often enough so I take a fish oil capsule and a flaxseed capsule (fairly similar compounds) each day.  Wish I’d known about it before I had my heart attack.  However, frequent exams indicate my coronary arteries aren’t any worse and possibly a fair amount better than they were.

Occam

Once again. Those studies are poorly controlled for intake.

I tried taking omega-3 capsules for my dyspraxia recently and saw no improvement.  Then again, I wasn’t really paying attention.

As I’m sure you’re aware of, Narwhol, 1) anecdotal evidence is essentially useless; 2) a sample of one is statistically just about meaningless; and 3) being both the investigator and the subject pretty well cancels any chance of validity.

Occam

Occam, I’m guessing this is another case of narwhol’s renowned wit, since “dyspraxia” means “Difficulty with planning a sequence of coordinated movements or difficulty with executing a plan, even though it is known.”

Correctamondo!  And difficulty concentrating on any one thing. However, I have tried omega three for mine, but it didn’t seem to do anything, and yes that is purely anecdotal evidence as Occam rightly points out.

A few years ago I was in bad shape physically, then I changed my entire diet and cut out red meat and switched to eating a lot of fish and fish oil. I exercised and cut out pastries, bread, sweets and fast food and now I am 75 and in very good health as I can walk better than I did at 25 and in spite of the fact I have several plates, rods, screws and bolts throughout my body to hold me together from a series of terrific accidents I am in better shape now that I was a few years ago. In helping to heal my last serious accident I started using heavy amounts of fish oil and it sped up my recovery a whole faster than had I not used it. And I noticed too that my wrinkles seemed to lessen from using fish oil.

Sprry HG, but that’s pure anecdote. You may be in better shape due tomany different changes you made, but I don’t think your notion of recovering faster than you otherwise would have constitutes evidence from a scientific point of view. Unfortunately, anecdotes are very convincing but have been repeatedly shown to be useless in terms of actually determining safety and efficacy. After all, people got better after being bled for centuries, but we’re pretty certain now there’s no therapeutic benefit to the practice.