Fish Oils Reduce Blood Pressure – new study
Fish oil helps with High Blood Pressure
Doggy Bag Message First
• Eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic (DHA) are essential Omega – 3 fatty acids typically found in cold-water fish. Essential fatty acids are essential because your body cannot make them and you need to get them from food to stay healthy and to avoid premature mortality.
• Recently there have been unwarranted concerns about consumption of Omega 3 fats and its potential increase in prostate cancer risk
• This meta-analysis demonstrates that consumption of 2 grams or more of EPA and DHA can significantly reduce blood pressure.
Study Details:
• This study of studies (meta-analysis) looked at 70 studies
• EPA+DHA–rich or –fortified foods were LESS effective than supplements with regards to lowering BP.
• Collectively, the evidence from RCTs indicates that provision of over 2 grams of EPA+DHA may reduce blood pressure.
• Hypertensive individuals who are not on anti-hypertensive medication showed the most improvement.
• Lower dose EPA + DHA (between 1 and 2g/d) may reduce only moderately reduce blood pressure
• Quote from the study authors: “The reductions in BP observed in this analysis are not only statistically significant but also are clinically meaningful”
– Miller et al. 2014
My Take On This
This study was published in the reputable American Journal for Hypertension about 3 weeks ago. Did you read any headlines on the results of this study? Where were the sound bytes on the health benefits of fish oils?
If we make health decisions based on what we hear or read from the media you are in trouble. Attracting “eyes and ears” through sensational reporting takes priority these days with most media outlets.
Headlines like – “Fish oils may raise prostate cancer risks, study confirms” are incorrect, misleading and irresponsible.
Fish oils from food or supplements do not cause prostate cancer – or any other cancer. And that’s the what many in the scientific community carefully concluded – MORE ON THIS HERE
A Smart Supplement consumption regimen should have multiple systemic benefits and not only help one part of the body or prevent just one disease.
Lowering blood pressure can reduce the risk of coronary plaque rupture, stroke, and complications of stroke, including related cognitive decline, thus improving clinical outcomes for higher-risk populations.
EPA+DHA are as effective, and in some cases more effective, than other lifestyle-related interventions, including increasing physical activity and restricting alcohol and sodium (Dickinson et al; 2006)
The other key point to this study is what nutritionally oriented practitioners have learned for decades – consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids work best in dosages higher than 2 grams a day. Miller and his research team point out that most benefit was experienced when dosages were 2 grams or higher in hypertensive people who were not on any medications for hypertension.
Clinically, I start patients at about 2400mg a day and adjust accordingly thereafter depending on how patients respond.
Do NOT take fish oils if…
Important to know that patients on blood thinners like Heparin or Plavix should consult with their physician before consuming fish oils as they too have blood thinning properties. Also, those undergoing surgery should stop taking fish oils one week prior to their procedure.
Reference:
Miller PE1, Van Elswyk M, Alexander DD.Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid and Blood Pressure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Hypertens. 2014 Mar 6.
Dickinson HO, Mason JM, Nicolson DJ, Campbell F, Beyer FR, Cook JV, Williams B, Ford GA. Lifestyle interventions to reduce raised blood pressure: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Hypertens 2006; 24:215–233.