Effects of Fish Oils on Cholesterol and Blood Pressure

Can you use fish oils on cholesterol levels and will this healthy oil reduce high blood pressure?

Fish oils are an excellent source of the omega 3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

These healthy fats are essential for the proper support and function of almost every cellular membrane in your body, including neurological, cardiovascular and hormonal health.

Your body can't produce these essential fats so you need to get them from food or nutritional supplements. Ensuring you get a daily supply of omega 3 fatty acids can improve your cardiovascular health.

The following research studies look at the effects of fish oils on cholesterol and blood pressure:

1. Fish Oils reduce risk for Blood Clots

Toyko - So what happens when we give patients a diet of highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a fatty acid found in fish oil?

Participants in this study took 1.8 to 2.7 grams per day of EPA for 16 weeks and showed a lower risk for blood clots and reduced high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

2. Fish Oils lower Cholesterol by 12%

Austria - Patients with coronary artery disease were treated with 12 grams/day of fish oil which provided 8.5 grams of omega 3 fatty acids.

After 4 weeks of treatment with fish oils, researchers measured total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol:

• total cholesterol decreased 12.2%

• LDL (unhealthy) cholesterol decreased 16.0%

• triglycerides decreased 20.3%

• HDL (healthy) cholesterol increased 8.3%

Participants taking fish oil also saw a large reduction in tissue plasminogen activator, a protein involved in the breakdown of clots.

3. Fish Oils help Statin Drugs lower Cholesterol

Houston - Patients with high cholesterol and triglyceride levels may be prescribed a cholesterol-lowering drug, also known as 'statins'. Lipitor and Crestor are some of the more commonly prescribed statin drugs.

Normal cholesterol levels support a healthy heart

Side effects associated with taking certain statin drugs include nausea, upset stomach, headache and muscle pain.

Can fish oils provide some additional benefits without the side effects associated with statin drugs?

Researchers affiliated with the Department of Medicine at Baylor College analyzed data from a number of studies and discovered that combining statin drugs with omega 3 fatty acid supplements (such as fish oil) may help improve cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride blood levels without any side effects associated with statin drugs.

4. Pharmaceutical Fish Oil reduces Triglyceride Levels

Louisville - How effective are prescription fish oils at lowering cholesterol levels?

Omacor (Lovaza)

Researchers at L-MARC Research Center in Kentucky gave study subjects 4 capsules/day of Omacor(Lovaza) with each 1 gram capsule providing 465 mg. eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 375 mg. docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Omacor is a highly purified omega 3 acid ethly ester which is reported to provide optimal absorption compared to regular triglyceride-based fish oils.

Researchers found the prescription omega 3 supplement significantly lowered triglyceride levels and increased HDL cholesterol levels.

5. Omega 3 Fatty Acids lower Blood Pressure

Italy - One hundred and eleven (111) patients with high triglyceride levels and normal-high blood pressure were given 2 grams/day of omega 3 fatty acids.

After 12 months of omega 3 treatment researchers found:

• Systolic blood pressure decreased by 2.7 mmHg

• Diastolic blood pressure decreased by 1.3 mmHg

• Heart rate decreased by 4 beats per minute

Researchers concluded that omega 3 fatty acids produce a significant reduction in heart rate; as well a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

6. Does Fish Oil really lower Blood Pressure? An Analysis of Controlled Trials

Check your blood pressure regularly

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health analyzed 31 placebo-controlled studies on the effects of fish oils on blood pressure (BP).

They found fish oils caused an average decrease in BP of -3.0 mmHg, with systolic BP dropping by -4.5 mmHg and diastolic BP by - 2.2 mmHg.

There was also a relationship between the fish oil dosage and the amount of reduction in blood pressure (BP):

• Fish oil dosages of up to 3 grams/day averaged BP reductions of -1.3 mmHg.

• Supplementing with 3 - 7 grams/day of fish oil caused an average BP drop of -2.9 mmHg.

• Consuming larger fish oil dosages of 15 grams/day saw BP reductions up to -8.1 mmHg.

Interestingly, researchers found no drop in blood pressure in patients with normal blood pressures; in contrast, patients with high blood pressure saw dramatic decreases in BP when supplementing with fish oils.

Researchers conclude that fish oils effects on blood pressure may be strongest in people with elevated blood pressure and heart disease.

Editorial Comments on Fish Oils and Cholesterol:

The above studies offer some interesting data on the use of fish oils on cholesterol and high blood pressure.

• Fish oils offer substantial cholesterol-lowering effects, particularly in people with elevated lipid levels.

• Fish oils may cause a slight reduction in blood pressure, especially in people that already have high blood pressure.

• The average reduction in blood pressure was about 3.0 mmHg systolic and 1.5 mmHg diastolic.

Scientists believe the blood pressure lowering effects may depend on the dosage of fish oils and it may be strongest in people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Enjoy the health benefits of fish oils

Further research shows that taking a daily dose of fish oil (which provide more than 3 grams of omega 3 fatty acids) may reduce triglyceride levels.

Some studies found this reduction may also be accompanied by a slight increase in total and LDL cholesterol in people with high triglyceride levels.

Now fish oils aren't a magic pill, but there's no doubt they can play a part in enhancing your overall health. Studies show that you can use fish oils for lower cholesterol levels.

In summary, here's how you can benefit from using fish oils on cholesterol and improving your heart health:

• May lower your risk for irregular heartbeats and sudden death.

• Found to reduce LDL (the unhealthy cholesterol) and raise HDL (the healthy cholesterol) in certain individuals.

• Can lower high triglyceride levels associated with heart disease.

• May reduce the risk for blood vessel constriction.

• May cause a slight reduction in high blood pressure.

• Help keep your blood platelets from becoming too sticky, thereby reducing your risk for blood clots.

Some doctors tell their patients to take an aspirin a day to reduce their risk of blood clots. With great results like these, they may soon prescribe fish oils for their health-boosting effects.

Research References:

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