Omega-3 fish oils reduce heart disease, vitamin D and fish oils do not seem to affect cancer.

At the recent American Heart Association and Congress of Cardiology, two very important studies were presented. The first (VITAL) trial followed 26,000 people over five years, some had vitamin D, some had fish oils (1 g daily), some have both and some have none. They looked at the incidence of cancer, and also cardiovascular events which they described as heart attacks, strokes and heart deaths. The conclusion was that there was no significant benefit from either vitamin D or fish oils, however, when they looked at just heart disease (and removed stroke) there was a 30% reduction in heart attack and heart deaths. (Because this was not prespecified, and was called a subgroup analysis, people are saying this is a negative trial!)

At the same meeting, the REDUCIT trial was published, with 3 g of fish oils taken daily, and in the study there was a 25% reduction in heart attack, cardiac events and death. This was incredibly significant (p<00000005), even more so because many of these people were already on full medical management including statin drugs.

It is amazing how the profession does its best to ignore complementary treatments, but I don't think there is any doubt now that omega-3 fish oils, provided it is quality oil (mercury free and pure) and taken an adequate doses does make an enormous difference to people with heart disease, or more importantly people at risk of heart disease. It is such an easy and innocuous preventive treatment, particularly when compared with most of the drugs we have available.
I believe that everybody at risk of heart disease or with disease should be taking 3 g of omega-3 fish oils per day.

Should I throw away my fish oil supplements?

Should I throw away my fish oil supplements?
Not yet, not if you are taking the right dose or the right brand!

Three recent studies have thrown doubt among the population on the benefits of fish oils, despite many years of evidence from populations on the benefits from cardiovascular disease, rhythm problems and strokes. I have reviewed these below, but in summary, they have all used a low dose of fish oils, and the quality of the fish oils used is almost certainly suspect. Two trials did show a slight improvement in heart attacks and rhythm problems, and suggested that perhaps if a higher dose had been used the results may have been different.

The take-home message is yes use fish oils, they can do absolutely no harm, and if given in sufficient doses using a quality supplement, could make a major difference in heart attacks, strokes and rhythm problems.

Fish oils are crucial in today's diet

Fish oils – a crucial part of today's diet

The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils (DHA and EPA) are crucial to balance the high levels of omega 6 fatty acids we get in today's diet. The ideal ratio should be 2-to-1, omega 6 to omega 3, but the average modern diet provides a 20 to 1 ratio. This leads to inflammation and many other effects, and asthma, autoimmune disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, irritable bowel, macular degeneration have all been shown to be worsened by this 3/6 imbalance. The omega-3 oils are also important components of many tissues especially brain.

Below is a very impressive list of just some of the benefits of fish oil, which is why almost everybody from conception should be taking fish oils, continuing right through life. Unfortunately it is difficult to consume enough fish to achieve the major benefits, and there is always the worry of pollutants such as mercury, PCB and insecticides which could undo much of the benefit. For this reason a high quality pure fish oil supplement is by far the safest and most likely to give benefit.

The benefits of fish oil are almost to numerous to list, but some of the important ones include:

1. ADHD and IQ in babies and children – pregnant women taking fish oil supplements have babies with better mental function. After birth a study from the University of South Australia showed that children treated with fish oil had reduced symptoms of ADHD, inattention, hyperactivity, restlessness and impossible behaviour.
2. Reduced anxiety. A study in Neuroscience sure that fish oils reversed all anxiety like and depression like behaviour changes induced in rats. While this is also been seen in humans, the purity of a rat study confirms the benefit to the brain of fish oils.
3. Arthritis – the anti-inflammatory action has been shown in many studies to improve arthritis, particularly rheumatoid.
4. Alzheimer's disease – the DHA in fish oil is crucial for the brain tissue, and fish oils have been shown to help  function in patients whose minds are failing.
5. Cancer – fish oils have been found to help kill a variety of cancer cell lines, including colon, breast and prostate. While it's impossible to do a study excluding all other treatments, most cancer patients should be taking fish oils.
6. Depression – a recent fascinating study reviewed 26 papers where fish oil and depression were discussed. Over 150,000 participants were reviewed and those who had a high intake of fish oils had an almost 20% reduction in the incidence of depression.
7. Diabetes – studies in Brain Research have shown that fish oils reduce the risks of diabetic patients developing neurological problems, but the anti-inflammatory action might also reduce the development and worsening of type II diabetes.
8. Eye diseases – fish oils have been shown to reverse dry eye, cataracts and macular degeneration.
9. Cardiovascular disease – it has been known for a long time that fish oils are beneficial to patients with coronary artery disease, not just the development of the disease, but also reducing the risk of sudden death.

It is hard to understand why all doctors are not advising their patients to take fish oil supplements, probably because of the pollution (especially mercury) found in many of the supplements, or natural fish. However good quality fish oils which are pure are available, and my advice is for everybody to take them throughout life.

Trans Fats - dangerous from conception

More evidence against trans fats:

New studies show that babies whose mothers ate trans fats while pregnant become more hyperactive and have more psychiatric like problems such as mania.They also have memory problems and poor reaction to stress. 
While the babies of mothers who ate fish oil (omega 3

polyunsaturated oils) had the reverse effect - they were emotionally stable, had no memory problems and reacted well to stress.  
This is because the oils are incorporated into the brain cells of these babies.   
We know that trans fats cause heart disease, but the effect on unborn babies is frightening. 

So what are trans fats and why do we use them?
Fats are a chain of carbon atoms - each is attached to 1 or 2 hydrogen atoms
Saturated fats - every carbon has 2 hydrogen atoms - this creates a straight compound which can pack tightly together and so can form solid fats ( cheese, butter, cream).
Mono unsaturated fats - one carbon pair only has 1 hydrogen (arrow), this makes the molecule curved and so liquid (nut, seed and some vegetable oils - especially olive oil)
Poly unsaturated fats - a number of carbon pairs have only 1 hydrogen - but always on the same side, and again these are liquids (fish oils, walnut, flax seed). 
These are all natural fats.
However food manufacturers have created trans fats, where the hydrogen atoms of an unsaturated fat are on each side of the

carbons (arrow), and this straightens the molecule out, enables them to pack together and become solid.  These give the food extra long shelf life and they go rancid much later.  To do this the fats are exposed to high temperatures and chemical solvents - some of which remain in the fat.  These and the shape of the molecule make them toxic to the body - leading to diseases. 

Margarines, spreads and many processed foods and cookies contain trans fats.  You can tell from the label stating trans fats or partially hydrogenated oils (which are trans fats).


So for the sake of you and your children, stay clear of these toxic products - especially when pregnant or breast feeding.   You will have a happier baby - it's worth it!