Eating fatty fish and the risk of atherosclerosis
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