Regular consumption of oily fish may help prevent cardiovascular disease in people at high risk

An analysis of several large studies involving participants from more than 60 countries, led by researchers at McMaster University, found that regular consumption of oily fish may help prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people at high risk. , such as those who already have heart disease. or a stroke.

The essential ingredient is omega-3 fatty acids, which the researchers found were associated with a lower risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes by about one sixth in people with high risk who ate two servings of fish rich in omega-3 each. week.

There is a significant protective benefit of consuming fish in people with cardiovascular disease. “

Andrew Mente, Co-Principal Author, Associate Professor of Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster and Principal Investigator at Population Health Research Institute

No benefit has been observed with the consumption of fish in people without heart disease or stroke.

“This study has important implications for fish consumption guidelines around the world. It indicates that increasing the consumption of fish and especially oily fish in vascular patients may produce modest cardiovascular benefit.”

Mente said people at low risk for cardiovascular disease could still have modest protection against cardiovascular disease by eating fish rich in omega-3s, but the health benefits were less pronounced than those at high risk.

The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine March 8.

The results were based on data from nearly 192,000 people in four studies, including about 52,000 with CVD, and is the only study conducted on five continents. Previous studies focused on North America, Europe, China and Japan, with little information on other regions.

“This is by far the most diverse study on fish consumption and health outcomes in the world and the only one with a sufficient number of representatives from high, middle and low income countries from all continents. inhabited world, ”said study co-director Dr. Salim Yusuf, professor of medicine at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and executive director of PHRI.

This analysis is based on data from several studies conducted by the IRPH over the past 25 years. These studies were funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, several pharmaceutical companies, charities, the Population Health Research Institute, and the Hamilton Health Sciences Research Institute.