Fish and Omega-3

What is the theory behind the possible benefits of fish oil?

Omega-3 fats can act as anticoagulants and reduce the chance of blood clot formation, which means a reduced risk of heart attack. They also have anti-flammatory properties, and inflammation is being increaingly implicated in many diseases, including heart disease.
A British trial, for example, showed that heart patients advised to eat two servings of oily fish a week, or to take daily fish oil capsules for two years, had a significantly lower death rate then patients who were told to increase their fibre intake and reduce fat consumption. An Italian study of over 2,800 heart attack survivors also showed that fish oil capsules providing 850 milligrams each EPA and DHA dramatically reduced the incidence of death in the first nine months following a heart attack.

So what is our bottom line here?Two fish meals a week with emphasis on salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel are likely to do more good than harm. Why a question of harm? Because fish can be contaminated with methyl mercury, PCBs and dixoins, all of which can present a risk to health. That's why pregnant women and young children are advised to avoid shark, swordfish, fresh and frozen tuna, king mackerel and tilefish, the ones most likely to be contaminated, and limit others to about 350grams (12 ounces) a week. Eating this much is a great idea. A study in The Lancet showed that pregnant women who consumed about 300 grams of fish or seafood a week gave birth to children with higher tested IQ scores.
For days when fish cannot be consumed, supplements may be appropriate. The fish oil used should be tested for mercury, lead, PCB, and other heavy metals. The benefits are likely to be worthwhile, and the benefits may not be restricted to the brain or the heart. Several studies have shown that eating fish twice a week can reduce the risk of macular degeneration, the leading cause of age-related blindness.

source:
BBC News (2007). Fish oil urged for heart patients. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6676999.stm

Schwarcz, J. (2007). An apple a day. Toronto: HarperCollins.