Health News

Studied: fish oil-active ingredients protect against heart attack and stroke

Consume fish oil derivative for the protection of the health?

New results of a recent study suggest that a purified fish oil derivative, which is already used in a specific prescription drug, cardiovascular can prevent events effectively.

The drug from a fish oil derivative seems to be able to cardiovascular disease. The drug lowered the Rate of strokes, heart attacks and deaths from cardiovascular causes in patients at risk of up to 30 percent. This emerges from a study in the “Journal of the American College of Cardiology“ was published.

The polyunsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are healthy for the body and protect us for instance against diseases of the heart. (Image: tunedin/fotolia.com)

Treatment benefit has been underestimated in the past

The drug called Vascepa can not only prevent a first heart attack, but also the then occurring stroke and possible third parties, potentially fatal events. If only the first results will be seen after ingestion of the drug, is underestimated as a result, the actual underlying treatment advantage, sums up the research team.

How well the drug protects?

The latest data show that through the drug the risk of first adverse event by a quarter can be reduced. A second and third possible event occurred to 30 percent less. The probability for further events was reduced almost by half. An estimated the treatment for thousands of patients over a period of five years, 76 coronary Revascularisation, 42 heart attacks, strokes, 14 strokes, 16 hospitalizations due to unstable Angina pectoris and 12 deaths related to cardiovascular causes, prevent, explain the researchers in a press release from the American College of Cardiology.

How much Omega-3 fatty acid took the Participants on a daily basis?

The drug was already approved in 2012 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in order to reduce so-called triglycerides, a type of Lipid, from about 500 mg/dl. Vascepa is a prescription drug, which is obtained from a single Omega-3 fatty acid, which was previously isolated from fish. Patients were given four grams per day. This corresponds to the amount of Omega-3 fatty acid, which is usually taken through the consumption of more than 20 servings of fish per week. By such a high consumption of fish people take in their diet, however, also a large amount of saturated fats and other ingredients. Previous fish oil studies have led to ambiguous results, but in the case of the current research work investigated component clearly showed a significant, positive impact.

Limitations of the study

Critics of the current study have already expressed concern that the study was funded by the manufacturer Amarin and the company was involved in all aspects of the study. This could lead to a kind of bias. It’ll be safest to take a Mediterranean diet, including several servings of fish per week, so the cardiovascular reduce risk. In addition, the prescription drug could cost up to 300 dollars a month, what the cost is.

Over 8,000 people took part in the study

For the study 8.179 patients with a normal LDL level were investigated, which were treated by the intake of statins. In addition, the patients had the disease, either cardiovascular or had type 2 Diabetes and had at least one other cardiovascular risk factor. The Participants were then monitored over a period of 4.9 years medical.

A healthy life style and protects you from diseases

The new drug is classified in the study as being well tolerated. There was by taking no significant differences in the Rate of serious adverse events compared to taking a placebo. The exact mode of action of the drug is unclear, it may prevent cardiovascular events, by acting directly on the triglycerides, suggest the researchers. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high levels of triglycerides are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease in combination with low HDL and high LDL. Certain decisions of our lifestyle, such as exercise, losing weight, healthy diet and not Smoking, can help lower our triglycerides. So heart diseases could be avoided, given annually to the death of thousands of people. (as)