February 10, 2004 NUTRITION NEWS FOCUS "Nutrition news is important. We help you understand it!" Today's Topic: Fishing for Heart Treatments Hundreds of studies have been done on fish or fish oils and prevention or treatment of heart disease. Most of the effect is attributed to the fat content called omega-3 fatty acids. A recent review recommends fish or fish oil supplements to prevent heart attacks, particularly if someone already had vascular disease. How omega-3 fats reduce heart disease is not known, but they lower blood triglycerides and blood pressure, prevent clotting, are anti-inflammatory, and reduce abnormal heart rhythms. Several large trials have been done with fish oil capsules in people who had heart attacks, and the reduction in second heart attacks has ranged from 30 to 48 percent. The review was published in the January 3, 2004 edition of the British Medical Journal. < http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/328/7430/30 > HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Good sources of omega-3 fats are fatty fish like salmon, rainbow trout, herring, some types of tuna, mackerel and sardines. There is controversy about the importance of contaminants in fish like mercury and other chemicals. The authors of the review recommend the web site, Omega 3 Information Service, found at http://www.omega-3info.com/home.htm