Omega-3 Review: Half a Gram Needed for Heart Benefits
Lee Swanson Research Update
The science behind the cardiovascular health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids supports recommended daily levels of 500 mg, according to a “state-of-the-art” review.
Compelling evidence from studies involving almost 40,000 participants supports daily EPA plus DHA intakes of at least 500 mg per day for healthy individuals, while people with known heart disease or heart failure should aim for up to 1,000 mg daily, according to a review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
“This isn’t just hype; we now have tremendous and compelling evidence from very large studies, some dating back 20 and 30 years, that demonstrate the protective benefits of omega-3 fish oil in multiple aspects of preventive cardiology,” said Carl Lavie, lead author of the review and medical director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans.
The review is in-line with claims from both industry and academia, and unofficial recommendations from US and UK bodies, for limits close to 500 mg per day for EPA and DHA.
Dr. Lavie and his co-workers noted that the most compelling evidence for the cardiovascular benefits of the fatty acids came from four randomized controlled trials with EPA and DHA, which involved around 40,000 participants.
Following evaluation of evidence from retrospective epidemiologic studies and from large randomized controlled trials, the reviewers recommended that healthy individuals should consume 500 mg daily of omega-3 fish oil containing EPA and DHA, while people with known heart disease or heart failure should aim for between 800 mg and 1,000 mg per day.
“Further studies are needed to determine optimal dosing and the relative ratio of DHA and EPA omega-3 PUFAs that provides maximal protection in those at risk of CV disease as well as in the treatment of atherosclerotic, arrhythmic and primary myocardial disorders,” concluded the researchers.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology 54:585-594, 2009