16th Mar 2012
Filed under: Research
According to a new study by Harvard scientists, Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil seem to keep the heart in good working order by preventing a type of irregular heart beat known as atrial fibrillation.
Irregular heart rhythm can be a threat to your health but according to a new study published in the science journal Circulation, people with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood have up to 30 per cent lower risk of atrial fibrillation compared with people who have low levels of these fatty acids. Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of irregular heart beat and is typically associated with palpitations, fainting, chest pain, or congestive heart failure. It can increase the risk of stroke by up to seven times that of the average population.
Fish or capsules?
Oily fish like salmon, herring, and mackerel are excellent omega-3 sources whilst Bio-Marine Plus is an alternative for those who do not like the taste of fish. Bio Marine Plus supplement provides purified (PureMax-certified) fish oil in the form of free fatty acids that are highly bio-available. Bio-Marine Plus also contains vitamins B12 and folic acid, which help to control levels of homocysteine, a natural compound that is linked to an increased risk of atherosclerosis. PureMax is considered to be the world’s leading technology for purifying fish oils. It guarantees levels of pollutants that are far lower than the official threshold values set by health authorities.
28th Jul 2011
Filed under: Product Information
A daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids at a minimum of 250 mg are necessary to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death and other cardiovascular diseases, a new meta-analysis confirms.
In 2009, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that a daily dose of 250 mg of omega-3 fatty acids must be a minimum if a company wish to claim that their fish oil contributes to a normal function of the heart.
It is this limit that scientists from Cantox, University of Toronto wanted to verify. According to their findings, which are published in the British Journal of Nutrition, 250 mg daily of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are associated with a 35 percent reduction in risk of sudden cardiac death.
The novelty of this meta-analysis is that the data used comes from volunteers who have not previously had cardiovascular disease. This strengthens the conclusion to recommend a diet rich in long chain omega-3 fatty acids.
It is important to understand that the 250 mg is a minimum value and does not represent the optimal daily amount of omega-3 fatty acids. In other words, it is possible to achieve a further reduction of this risk if you consume more than 250 mg omega-3 daily. Healthy subjects without previous heart disease are recommended 900-1000 mg omega-3 daily. This corresponds to approx. 3 capsules of Bio-Fish Oil.
Reference
Musa-Veloso K, et al. Impact of low v. moderate intakes of long-chain n-3 fatty acids on risk of coronary heart disease. British Journal of Nutrition. E-Pub ahead of print.
