The results from this study suggest that diet, rather than genetics, accounts for the two-fold lower coronary heart disease mortality in Japan than in the US.

First, the details.

• 3 groups or adult men were studied.
• 281 Japanese born and living in Japan
• 306 Caucasians born and living in the US
• 281 Japanese-Americans born and living in the US
• Each participant was monitored for changes in the thickness of the carotid artery walls, coronary artery calcification, and fatty acid blood levels (triglycerides).

And, the results.

• Japanese men had the lowest levels of atherosclerosis; whereas whites and Japanese Americans had similar levels.
• Japanese also had 2-fold higher levels of marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids than the other groups.
• In Japanese men, higher levels of marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids were associated with less thickening of the coronary artery.
• Neither whites nor Japanese Americans showed this association.

The bottom line?
Dr. William Harris, in a MedPage review of the study thinks, “Decades of a moderately high omega-3 dietary intake may be the best way to slow atherosclerosis.”

8/2/08 21:38 JR