Nutritionists have been touting the benefits of fish oil for years. Studies have shown clear benefit to patients with a wide range of diseases; cardiovascular, neurological, metabolic and more. In the August 11, 2009 edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, a recommendation was issued to people with and without heart disease.
500 mg of EPA and DHA for patients without heart disease
1000 mg of EPA and DHA for patients with heart disease.
The authors state that further study is needed to determine optimal dosage and that these appear to be minimum dosages.
Another recently published paper suggests that assessing the omega 3 content in red blood cells is an important measurable variable.
" The n-3 index (erythrocyte eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid) may be considered as a potential risk marker for coronary heart disease mortality, especially sudden cardiac death." Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology 2009 Jun 26. (epub ahead of print)
Other researchers agree and state this hope for future cardiac assessments,
"The day will probably come when a test such as the omega-3 index will be routinely included in lipid panels so that the clinician can address not only cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and lipoprotein abnormalities but also deficiencies in n–3 FAs." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008 Jun;87(6):1997S-2002S.
You should be aware that those tests are readily available to you and your physician. It is just not part of the routine assessment because standards take a very long time to change.
If you have heart disease or are at risk, ask your physician to assess your red blood cell fatty acid status.
500 mg of EPA and DHA for patients without heart disease
1000 mg of EPA and DHA for patients with heart disease.
The authors state that further study is needed to determine optimal dosage and that these appear to be minimum dosages.
Another recently published paper suggests that assessing the omega 3 content in red blood cells is an important measurable variable.
" The n-3 index (erythrocyte eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid) may be considered as a potential risk marker for coronary heart disease mortality, especially sudden cardiac death." Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology 2009 Jun 26. (epub ahead of print)
Other researchers agree and state this hope for future cardiac assessments,
"The day will probably come when a test such as the omega-3 index will be routinely included in lipid panels so that the clinician can address not only cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and lipoprotein abnormalities but also deficiencies in n–3 FAs." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008 Jun;87(6):1997S-2002S.
You should be aware that those tests are readily available to you and your physician. It is just not part of the routine assessment because standards take a very long time to change.
If you have heart disease or are at risk, ask your physician to assess your red blood cell fatty acid status.
No comments:
Post a Comment