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A large body of research demonstrates that a diet high in Omega 3 fatty acids can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. Supplements containing Omega 3 fish oil concentrates have also shown the potential to reduce the progression of cardiovascular disease and related mortality, including sudden cardiac death.
It has long been known that the Inuit of Greenland exhibit a significantly lower rate of death from heart disease than the people of Denmark, despite only moderate differences in blood cholesterol levels. This has been attributed to the high fat traditional Inuit diet providing up to several grams of Omega 3 fatty acid (EPA and DHA) daily in the form of marine mammals, wildfowl, and fresh oily fish.
The higher fish intakes of the Japanese population relative to that of North America, have been associated with considerably lower rates of acute heart disease despite only moderately lower blood cholesterol levels in the Japanese population.
Studies using Omega 3 fish oil supplements that provide EPA and DHA at intakes of up to 2 to 4g per day over a few weeks, have been shown to lower various risk factors for cardiovascular disease, independent of any blood cholesterol-lowering effect (Omega 3 oil is known to have a slight blood thinning effect).
It is believed that the Omega 3 oils help to increase or maintain the elasticity of large arteries, reducing the effects of hypertension and increased pulse pressure. Click here for more information on the role of Omega 3 in the treatment of heart disease.