From The April 2001 Issue of Nutrition Science News

A Fish Story

by Anthony Almada

The omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and decosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and their primary carrier in the diet, fish, have been the subjects of thousands of studies. In most of these studies, researchers have examined the influence of fatty acids on blood clotting, cancer, fat metabolism, or inflammation, as well as their effect on antioxidants.^1-4 A recent study involving almost 80,000 nurses during a 15-year period revealed that a half serving of fish or 500 mg of omega-3 fats daily provided greater protection against certain types of strokes than aspirin.⁵ This finding comes on the heels of an FDA ruling permitting a "qualified" health claim for omega-3 fatty acids. The claim ruling was based on evidence that a protective benefit against heart disease is "suggestive, but not conclusive."

One recent open-label study of eight people (men and women) has shown that daily consumption of very low daily doses of EPA/DHA (120 mg/180 mg, about one standard fish oil capsule) in an enriched milk led to a 19 percent decrease in blood triglycerides and a 19 percent increase in HDL cholesterol after six weeks.⁶ It is unclear whether EPA is superior to DHA, although EPA has proven more potent in relaxing cow coronary arteries and producing the vasodilator gas, nitric oxide, in vitro.⁷ Expect to see more omega-3s, especially EPA, on the market.

Anthony Almada is a nutritional and exercise biochemist and has collaborated on more than 50 university-based clinical trials. He is the co-founder of EAS and founder and chief scientific officer of IMAGINutrition.

References

1. Shimokawa H. N-3 fatty acids in vascular function: beneficial effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on endothelial vasodilator function in animals and humans. World Rev Nutr Diet 2001;88:100-8.

2. Babcock T, et al. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA): an anti-inflammatory n-3 fat with potential clinical applications. Nutrition 2000;16:1116-8.

3. Stalenhoef AFH, et al. The effect of concentrated n-3 fatty acids versus gemfibrozil on plasma lipoproteins, low density lipoprotein heterogeneity and oxidizability in patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Atherosclerosis 2000;153:129-38.

4. Noguchi M, et al. The role of fatty acids and eicosanoid synthesis inhibitors in breast carcinoma. Oncology 1995;52:265-71.

5. Iso H, et al. Intake of fish and omega-3 fatty acids and risk of stroke in women. JAMA 2001;285:304-12.

6. Visioli F, et al. Very low intakes of n-3 fatty acids incorporated into bovine milk reduce plasma triacylglycerol and increase HDL-cholesterol concentrations in healthy subjects. Pharmacol Res 2000;41:571-6.

7. Omura M, et al. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) induces Ca2+-independent activation and translocation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. FEBS Lett 2001;487:361-6.