Eating fish helps prevent clogged coronary arteries

If you are looking for ways to reduce your risk of heart disease, then perhaps you should start with a typical seafood diet in Japan. According to a new study, the habit of eating salmon, sardines, salmon and other fish has helped Japanese people avoid coronary artery disease despite other cardiovascular risk factors.

The study will be published in the August 5 issue of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). Research suggests that protective effects are due to omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish. In the first international study of the same field, scientists found that compared to middle-aged or Japanese-American white men living in the United States, Japanese men living in Japan have ratios. Omega-3 fatty acids are twice as high in blood. Another independent finding was also published about the link between the above groups and the incidence of atherosclerosis.

Akira Sekikawa - PhD and assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh - along with an assistant professor at Shiga University School of Medicine, Otsu, Japan, said: 'The mortality rate from heart disease at Japan is often low suspicious. Our research suggests that the incidence of low coronary heart disease in Japanese people living in Japan may be due to their habit of eating a lot of fish throughout their lives. '

The average Japanese person eats about 3 ounces of fish (about 85 grams) a day while Americans eat only about twice a week. Nutrition studies show that Japanese eat an omega-3 acid found in fish averaging 1.3 grams a day, while Americans eat only about 0.2 grams a day. Previous studies conducted by Dr. Sekikawa's team show that Japanese men have significantly less cholesterol in their arteries when compared to white men living in the United States even if they have blood cholesterol levels. as well as equivalent blood pressure, or high incidence of diabetes, or high smoking rates. However, it is unclear whether Japanese men get strong genes to protect them, or because of a diet high in fish or other factors.

To answer that question, study ERA JUMP (Electron-Beam Tomography, Investigation of risk factors in Japanese and American men in the post-World War II Birth Cohort) of 868 randomly selected men. from 40 to 49 years old. Of these, 281 are Japanese men living in Kusatsu, Shiga (Japan); 306 were white people from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; and 281 people are 3rd and 4th generations of Japanese Americans in Honolulu, Hawaii.

All participants were physically tested, completed a lifestyle questionnaire and had a standard blood test to assess cardiovascular status. Laboratory tests also determine the ratio of fatty acids in the blood and the amount of omega-3 acids found in fish (especially eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic and docosapentaenoic acids).

In addition, scientists use two techniques to determine the concentration of cholesterol in arteries. In the first test, ultrasound measured the thickness of the carotid artery wall in the neck. This test is called an intimal-medial thickness (IMT) test. In the second test, an electron beam scanner measures hard calcium or cholesterol deposits in the coronary arteries of the heart. This test is called an intimal-medial thickness (CAC). Both tests can identify people at high risk for heart disease.

Dr. Sekikawa and colleagues found that the ratio of total fatty acids in all 3 groups of participants, but the percentage of omega-3 fatty acids from fish was twice as high in Japanese men living in Japan (9, 2%) when compared with white men (3.9%) and Japanese Americans living in the United States (4.8%).

The researchers found similar rates of atherosclerosis in Japanese Americans and white men but lower than Japanese living in Japan. The average IMT of 37 µm in Japanese was lower than that of whites after age-related factors as well as the risk of cardiovascular disease were taken into account. While the difference in risk for the average risk-adjusted rate for Copies and Caucasians conducted a CAC test was 11%. Both gaps are significant, but will not be statistically significant if the difference in the ratio of omega-3 fatty acids is considered.

According to a new study, the habit of eating salmon, sardines, salmon and other fish has helped Japanese people avoid coronary artery disease despite other cardiovascular risk factors.(Photo: iStockphoto / Arne Trautmann)

For Japanese men living in Japan, the researchers also found that the value of IMT decreased when the ratio of omega-3 fatty acids increased - this is a negative relationship with significant statistical significance. The relationship between the ratio of omega-3 fatty acids and IMT is significant after adjusting for common cardiovascular risk factors. In Japanese men, CAC also decreased when the ratio of omega-3 fatty acids increased but the relationship between these two factors was not statistically significant.

No significant adverse relationship has been found between the ratio of omega-3 fatty acids and atherosclerosis in Caucasians or Japanese-Americans once the risk factors for cardiovascular disease are taken into account. . Dr. Sekikawa said: 'Our research clearly demonstrates that white and Japanese-Americans are at similar risk of atherosclerosis, and much higher than many Japanese living in Japan. This suggests that the extremely low mortality rate caused by cardiovascular disease in Japanese people living in Japan is not determined by genetic factors. '

According to William S. Harris - an experienced scientist and director of the Center for Nutrition and Metabolic Research at South Dakota University, Sioux Falls, the key to omega-3 fatty acids in fish is to reduce The risk of cardiovascular disease has been emphasized in research in many different cultural regions. Dr. Harris said: 'Japanese men in Japan with a history of high or even higher risk of cardiovascular disease than Americans but they are less likely to suffer from the disease. Why could it be like that ' . Harris did not participate in the ERA JUMP study. He added: 'What really makes Japanese different from Americans is that the ratio of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood is twice as high when they live in Japan compared to when they live in the west.'

The message from this very important study is: The common risk factor leading to the accumulation of plaque that clog arteries occurs only when the basic diet, and perhaps the only diet, is available. maintenance for life, lack of omega-3 fatty acids. Increasing the amount of omega-3 ingested in the body will cause the rate of heart disease in the West to fall closer to the Japanese. "While we need to eat large amounts of omega-3 from birth (in stark contrast to fish oil intake) to achieve our goals, Dr. Sekikawa and his colleagues have told us. Listen to a convincing story that we absolutely can do well . 'Additional research has just received support and will test the relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and the progression of atherosclerosis. rims in white people, Japanese Americans and Japanese people living in their homeland.

Refer
Sekikawa et al.Marine-Derived n-3 Fatty Acids and Atherosclerosis in Japanese, Japanese-American, and White Men: A Cross-Sectional Study.J Am Coll Cardiol, 2008 52: 417-424 DOI: 10.1016 / j.jacc.2008.03.047