Guest guest Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 " HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch Subject:Fascinatin' Rhythm Mon, 25 Oct 2004 11:00:36 -0400 Fascinatin' Rhythm Health Sciences Institute e-Alert October 25, 2004 ************************************************************** Dear Reader, When it comes to the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, HSI members don't really need an official government seal of approval. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the FDA now allows this qualified claim to appear on food packaging: Omega-3 fatty acids – eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) – may help reduce heart disease risk. I'm not sure what took the FDA so long to get around to allowing this claim, because it's been four years since they allowed a similar qualified claim for omega-3 fatty acid supplements. In any case, at about the same time the FDA made the announcement about food packaging last month, a newly published study from Berlin, Germany, illustrated just how versatile omega-3 fatty acids can be in protecting the heart. --------------------------- Setting the pace --------------------------- In the biomedical science journal Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes & Essential Fatty Acids, the Berlin researchers note that very little clinical data is available regarding the use of omega-3 fatty acids to treat arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). Arrhythmias can be triggered by a number of factors, including diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, prescription drugs and even some herbal supplements. There are several types of arrhythmias; some cause only mild chest discomfort, while others prompt heart attacks and strokes. The Berlin researchers recruited 65 patients who had been diagnosed with arrhythmias, but not coronary heart disease or heart failure. Divided into two groups, 33 subjects received daily supplements containing three grams of fish oil, which delivered one gram of omega-3 per day. The other subjects took a placebo. Blood samples were taken from all subjects throughout the six- month trial period and for an additional follow up period of six months. Heart rhythms were measured throughout both periods as well. The fish oil group took no supplements during the follow up period. At the end of the supplement period, researchers found the results to be dramatic. Overall, subjects in the fish oil group showed a decrease in several types of arrhythmias. In addition, triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels dropped, while HDL cholesterol went up. In the placebo group, none of these levels changed, and arrhythmias that were noted at the beginning of the study remained the same. These results alone would point to the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids in promoting heart health and helping to regulate arrhythmias. But even more telling was the fact that all of the positive benefits experienced by subjects in the fish oil group were reversed within six months of discontinuing the supplement intake. --------------------------- Standard oil --------------------------- Longtime e-Alert readers know that the easiest way to increase consumption of omega-3 fatty acids is by increasing your fish intake; dark meat fish like mackerel, salmon, sardines, bluefish, and swordfish contain the most concentrated sources, with an average of 1.51 grams of omega-3s per serving. Most other fish, including canned tuna, provide about .45 grams per serving, while shrimp, lobster and scallops contain about .32 grams per serving. But as the Berlin study demonstrates, fish oil supplements also provide an effective source of omega-3. And with the disturbing reports we're hearing more often these days about mercury levels in fish, supplementing with fish oil might be the safest way to go. Earlier this year, a local television station here in Baltimore purchased ten samples of fresh swordfish and tuna steaks from several stores in the area, and sent the samples to a certified lab for testing. Nine out of the ten samples had mercury levels higher than the FDA's recommended safe standard, and four of the samples had mercury levels that were more than twice as high as the standard. (And that's assuming that you feel comfortable with the FDA's standard!) Unfortunately, some fish oil supplements contain traces of mercury and other pollutants. To insure the highest quality supplement, look for pharmaceutical grade fish oil that's been molecularly distilled. The molecular distillation process effectively separates toxic heavy metals from the oil. ************************************************************** ....and another thing Think fluoride in tap water is bad? That's just ONE thing wrong with municipal water. Here's another, from HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D.: " Many people think the chlorine is what makes the water pure and safe, while (among other bad things it does) it may actually be responsible for atherosclerosis. The chlorine can react against the inner lining of the arterial wall and cause a small scar, which is handled by the body by painting a coat of cholesterol over it. " This is just one of the fascinating details you can find in Dr. Spreen's book " Nutritionally Incorrect: Why the American Diet is Dangerous and How to Defend Yourself " (Woodland Publishing). And if you happen to live in the Scottsdale/Phoenix, Arizona, area, you have a unique opportunity this week to meet Dr. Spreen in person. This coming Friday (10/29), at 4:00 PM, Dr. Spreen will be autographing copies of " Nutritionally Incorrect " at the opening of Granola's, in Scottsdale (7119 Shea, Suite 101C – on the corner of Scottsdale and Shea). So stop by and meet Dr. Spreen. (And if you do, drop me a line and let me know if he was wearing his Snoopy tie!) To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute ************************************************************** Sources: " Can N-3 PUFA Reduce Cardiac Arrhythmias? Results of a Clinical Trial " Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes & Essential Fatty Acids, Vol. 71, No. 3, September 2004, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov " Fish Oils Can Regulate Heart Beat " NutraIngredients.com, 9/10/04, nutraingredients.com " FDA Recognizes Health Benefits of Omega-3 " Maureen Williams, N.D., Healthnotes Newswire, 10/14/04, pccnaturalmarkets.com Copyright ©1997-2004 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. The e-Alert may not be posted on commercial sites without written permission. 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