There is mounting evidence that omega-3 fatty acids from fish or fish oil supplements not only help prevent cardiovascular diseases in healthy individuals, but also reduce the incidence of cardiac events and mortality in patients with existing heart disease. A new study, published in the August 11, 2009, issue of theJournal of the American College of Cardiology, extensively reviews data from a broad range of studies in tens of thousands of patients and sets forth suggested daily targets for omega-3 consumption.
Finnish study links higher omega-3 DHA blood levels to reduced AF risk
Researchers from the University of Kuopio in Finland wanted to look for any associations between omega-3 blood levels and the risk of AF (Virtanen JK et al. 2009).
— Dr. Nicolas Bazan, Director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Boyd Professor, and Ernest C. and Yvette C. Villere Chair of Retinal Degenerative Diseases Research at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, will present new research findings showing that an omega three fatty acid in the diet protects brain cells by preventing the misfolding of a protein resulting from a gene mutation in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Huntington’s.
“Our study shows for the first time that lipids called protectins and resolvins derived from omega-3 fatty acids can actually reduce the instance of liver complications, such as hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, in obese people,” stated Joan Claria, a professor from the University of Barcelona and one of the researchers involved in the work.
5. Protection From Skin Cancer (Earth Times)
New studies reveal that a diet high in omega-3 oils – the kind that come from oily fish and fish oil supplements – can help prevent skin cancer by boosting the immune system enough to fight off the damaging effects of overexposure to the sun. This exciting research pinpoints a concrete action people can take to help guard themselves against skin cancer, says Dr. Joshua Fox, leading dermatologist and medical director at Advanced Dermatology in NY.
Update:
Niacin Superior to Statin (Journal Watch for physicians)
Excerpt:
Niacin, but not ezetimibe, was associated with a significant reduction in CIMT thickness. In the ezetimibe group, paradoxically, greater decreases in LDL levels were associated with greater increases in CIMT thickness. The rate of major cardiovascular events was higher in the ezetimibe group than in the niacin group (5% vs. 1%; P=0.04).
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