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Omega-3 acids do not reduce the risk of heart disease
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Over the past decades, scientists have tried to establish a link between polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 and cardiovascular diseases. Do omega-3 PUFAs prevent or at least reduce the risk of heart attacks, heart attacks and strokes? The mechanism of action of polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 has not been established so far. However, specialists from the Ioannina University in Greece attempted to systematize the results of previous studies and identify causal relationships.
A team of scientists from the University of Ioannina in Greece, under the guidance of Evangelos Rizos, MD, conducted a large-scale study to find out the relationship between omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the risk of fatal cardiovascular diseases.
Researches of experts were based on the data of researches in which 70 thousand patients took part. In their diet, supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids were included. Scientists have not found a beneficial effect on the use of omega-3 PUFAs in reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
"The positive impact of preventive measures aimed at reducing the risk of developing heart disease with the help of omega-3 PUFAs was confirmed by randomized clinical trials, but at the same time some results were refuted by others. Despite the fact that the mechanism of their influence is not completely clear, there are assumptions that omega-3 PUFAs have the ability to reduce triglyceride levels (a type of fat that, like cholesterol, is the main source of fat circulating in our blood. These fats can provoke vascular disease, so their high concentration is a signal of danger), prevent arrhythmias and lower blood pressure, "scientists say.
Now supplements with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 are recommended as an addition to the daily diet for people who have suffered a myocardial infarction. In the US, they are prescribed only to reduce the level of triglycerides, with hypertriglyceridemia.
Disputes that arise from the ambiguous application of omega-3 PUFA lead to confusion in the labeling and indications for the use of these drugs.
Analysis of the results of the study did not reveal the relationship between the intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the level of mortality in general and in particular the mortality from heart failure, heart attacks and strokes.
"We came to the conclusion that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids do not affect the main cardiovascular diseases in different groups of patients," Evangelos Rizos stressed. "Our studies do not justify the use of omega-3 PUFAs as a means to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in clinical practice."
Scientists will continue to work in this direction, using new statistics and research results.
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