Effects of Omega 3’s on Heart Deaths

A report in the Lancet this week following two long term studies shows that omega 3 fish oils significantly reduce the risk of death or hospitalisation compared with statins. 1g of omega 3 cuts the mortality risk by nine percent and rate of hospital admission by eight percent compared to placebo. After 4 years of statin therapy there was no reduction in risk. This supports the importance of increasing omega 3 intake through diet and supplements. For effectiveness, a good quality fish oil supplying one gram omega 3 fish oil should be taken each day and foods rich in omega 3 should be included daily in the diet. Foods rich in omega 3 include: Oily fish – salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel, pilchards Nuts and seeds – flax seeds, hemp, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower Flax seed oil