Eating fish may reduce the risk of heart attack in people with type 2 diabetes

New research shows that eating fish regularly can reduce the risk of heart attack in people with type 2 diabetes.

These findings reinforce the NHS's recommendation to eat at least two servings of fish per week.

In this study, researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, looked at data from 2,225 men and women with type 2 diabetes.

People who eat more than 3 servings of fish per week reduce their risk of heart disease by 40%.

Data were collected from 1998 to 2012 in Sweden and fish uptake was collected from food frequency questionnaires. Participants were supervised for an average of 13.2 years.

In this group, there were 333 cases of heart attack (myocardial infarction), 321 cases of stroke and 771 deaths. Researchers have classified participants based on the amount of fish they eat each week or month.

Results showed that those who ate more than 3 servings of fish per week reduced their risk of heart disease by 40% compared to those who ate less than 3 servings of fish per month.

The data also showed lower mortality rates in people who ate fish regularly, however, there was no clear difference in stroke risk.

While this study indicates that fish may have a protective effect against heart attack , this study cannot rule out other factors such as people who eat fish with a healthy lifestyle.

This study is published on Clinical Nutrition Journal.