In the three years following a heart attack, the consumption of products rich in omega-3, such as oily fish or nuts, reduces the risk of death.
- Observational study shows benefits of omega-3s within three years of heart attack
- Consumption of omega 3 (fatty fish, nuts) lowers blood pressure, influences AMD risk and may benefit mental health
Fatty fish, nuts, cod liver oil: all these foods are good for your heart. Even in case of heart disease, they would protect you. In Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Spanish researchers show that a diet rich in omega-3s reduces the risk of death after a heart attack.
An observational study
They performed an observational study with 944 participants. All of them had previously suffered a serious heart attack, where one of the main arteries in their heart had been blocked. When they were hospitalized, blood samples were taken, which were analyzed by the research team to determine the level of omega-3. This allowed them to determine their omega-3 intake in the three weeks prior to their hospitalization. They then studied the evolution of the state of health of the different participants over three years. They were interested in two types of omega-3: those associated with eicosapentaenoic acid and alpha-linolenic acid.
Finding a protective effect
People with the highest levels of omega-3s in their blood had a reduced risk of dying within three years of their heart attack, the risk of them being re-admitted to hospital for cardiac reasons was also less raised. For one of the main authors of this research, Aleix Sala-Vila, these results are clear: “Consuming omega-3s from marine products or plants, such as salmon, walnuts or flax seeds, seems to offer the best protection.“The researchers nevertheless point out that this observational study does not make it possible to understand the causes and the consequences, only to observe a correlation.
Lots of research on omega-3s
Several studies have looked at the effects of omega-3s on health. In 2017, scientific work showed that the consumption of these fatty acids reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, even in people at risk. Another research, published in March 2020 in the British Medical Journal, confirms the interest of these products in the reduction of cardiac risks. I’National Health Security Agency recalls that omega-3s are “necessary for the development and functioning of the retina, brain and nervous system“. They reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension, have a positive effect on maintaining mental health and may prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
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