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PEORIA – Two new studies raise questions about the use of fish oil supplements to treat heart problems.
The studies were published at the annual conference of the American Heart Association in November. One of them showed that a new drug containing a concentrated dose of EPA, one of the omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil, significantly reduced heart attacks. The second study showed that fish oil supplements commonly found in pharmacies and health food stores do nothing to reduce the risk of heart problems.
Dr. Sudhir Mungee, interventional cardiologist from the OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute, provided clarification on the issue during a telephone interview on Monday.
"We know that fish oil has a beneficial effect on heart health, mainly because it reduces inflammation, the first step in cardiovascular disease," he said. "The fish contains a fatty acid called EPA, which reduces inflammation, but are fish oil supplements enough to reduce the risk?"
The dose of EPA administered to patients participating in the trial of a new drug called Vascepa was several times greater than the dosage indicated in fish oil supplements in pharmacy. Vascepa will probably be used in the treatment of heart disease in the future. Pharmacy supplements do not do the same thing. According to Mungee, a better choice is a healthy lifestyle.
"I would rather spend my money on a good diet than spend money on over-the-counter tablets," he said.
In addition to being expensive, supplements such as fish oil pills are not regulated by the FDA, which means that patients do not necessarily know what they are getting. Taking supplements can be harmful if they interact with other medications that the patient takes.
"If you have not discussed the supplements you are taking with your health care provider, you can put yourself at risk," said Mungee.
A healthy diet combined with exercise and other healthy lifestyles, like sleeping a lot, reducing stress and not smoking or drinking excessively, is the way to go, Mungee said. Even though the holiday season can make it more difficult to choose a healthy lifestyle, moderation is key.
"Nobody says do not eat what you like, but watch your portions and balance them with exercise," he said. "We recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. It can be walking. "
A healthy lifestyle is a family endeavor – the person who plans family meals sets the standard for everyone, Mungee said.
"The health center is a woman," he said. "More women than men bring food home and prepare it. If you educate the most important person in the family about good health practices – what to eat and how to prepare them – and portion size – you double or quadruplicate the benefit, based on the number of people in the family. "
Good health practices are an everyday thing that must be maintained until the holiday season, Mungee said.
"The idea is not to enjoy the holidays, but many more Christmas for the rest of your life."
Leslie Renken can be contacted at 686-3250 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter.com/LeslieRenken and subscribe to her on Facebook.com/leslie.renken.
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