Here’s more good news about fish oil. We’ve known for some time that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon and other cold water fish, is good for the heart. New research has now shown that seniors whose omega-3 levels are highest outlive those whose levels are lowest by an average of 2.2 years. Researchers from Harvard and the University of Washington reported study findings that elderly adults with the highest blood levels of omega-3s may reduce their risk of death by up to 27 percent and cut their risk of death from heart disease by about 35 percent. The research team looked at data collected for 16 years from 2,692 adults starting at age 69 to 79 from communities in North Carolina, California, Maryland, and Pennsylvania who were generally healthy when they enrolled. During the study, the participants had blood drawn, had regular physical exams and diagnostic testing and were asked about their health status, medical history, and lifestyle. When the researchers looked at how adding omega-3s to the diet affected blood levels, they saw that the biggest boost came when going from a very low intake to about 400 mg daily. That averages out at about two servings of fatty fish per week. The study was published in the April 2, 2013 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
My take? These important results bolster what we already know about the positive health effects of omega-3s: that they can reduce inflammation, and may in turn help lower the risk and symptoms of a variety of disorders influenced by inflammation, including heart attack, stroke, several forms of cancer and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. It is encouraging to consider the concept that something as simple as eating more fish can enable you to live longer.
Source:
Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH et al, “Plasma Phospholipid Long-Chain ?-3 Fatty Acids and Total and Cause-Specific Mortality in Older Adults: A Cohort Study.” Annals of Internal Medicine, April 2, 2013;158(7):515-525
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