Omega-3 Benefits Amplified for Individuals with Family Cardiovascular History, Study Finds

A recent study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet has highlighted the potential benefits of incorporating more oily fish into the diets of individuals with a family history of cardiovascular disease. Published in the journal Circulation, this study emphasizes the significance of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like salmon, mackerel, herring, and sardines, namely eico

sapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in various bodily functions, yet they can't be internally produced and must be acquired through diet. Existing research underscores the importance of omega-3 in everyone's diet, but this new international study sheds light on its heightened relevance for those with a familial predisposition to cardiovascular issues.

Cardiovascular diseases encompass severe conditions such as unstable angina, heart attacks, cardiac arrests, and strokes, and they often exhibit hereditary traits, as evidenced by twin studies. Pinpointing the controlling genes behind these conditions has been challenging, leading to the hypothesis that a combination of genetics and environmental factors contributes to their development.

Karin Leander, a senior lecturer and associate professor at the Karolinska Institutet's Institute of Environmental Medicine, Unit for Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, spearheaded the research. Her team scrutinized the interplay between family history and dietary habits, pooling data from over 40,000 individuals without cardiovascular disease.

Over the follow-up period, approximately 8,000 participants experienced cardiovascular disease. Analysis revealed that individuals with both a family history of cardiovascular issues and low EPA/DHA levels faced a more than 40 percent increased risk of developing these conditions. Even those with only a familial history showed a 25 percent elevated risk.

Karin Leander underscores, "The findings imply that individuals with a family background of cardiovascular disease could significantly benefit from higher consumption of oily fish compared to others."

The study measured EPA/DHA levels in all participants, considering these fatty acids as a dependable gauge of oily fish intake. Karin Leander highlights the objectivity of measuring fatty acids in blood and tissue, asserting its superiority over self-reported dietary data.

Despite being an observational study in a domain abundant with randomized clinical trials, these findings present novel insights, as per Karin Leander. She notes, "Our study is the pioneering investigation examining the impact of both family history and fatty fish intake using precise fatty acid measurements."

Conducted by the Fatty Acids and Outcomes Research Consortium (FORCE), comprising over 100 global researchers and experts, this study amalgamated data from 15 studies in 10 countries. The researchers disclose no conflict of interest, with funding from the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation.