03/25/2024
Thank you Lynn for this insight leading to improved well-being!
Higher Omega-3 Status Linked to Reduced Risk of Long-Term Cardiac Events:
According to a new study published in the International Journal of Cardiology, increasing the Omega-3 index levels in individuals who suffered a heart attack improves their long-term health outcomes.
Initially, researchers looked at Omega-3 supplementation after a myocardial infarction. This evaluation was completed after 6 months of Omega-3 supplementation. Researchers found even after 2 years the number of cardiac events was significantly lower in the Omega-3 group when compared to the placebo group with only 6 months of supplementation.
Around 360 individuals who had suffered a heart attack and were admitted to the hospital participated in this study. Six years after the hospital admission and the initial study researchers set out to determine if there were differences in the rate of a MACE (major adverse cardiac event) in the group supplementing with Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids and the placebo group. Researchers used the measure of Omega-3’s (EPA and DHA) in a person’s blood, the Omega-3 Index, to assess a target level of Omega-3. Past studies determined 8% as the optimal level of Omega-3. Researchers were interested in how supplementing with Omega-3 raised the Omega-3 Index.
Participants in the supplement group received 4 grams of Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids which contained both EPA and DHA daily.
During the initial 6-month study telephone interviews and mail-in questionnaires were used to follow the participant’s activity. Before the study onset, baseline levels of serum lipid levels, insulin resistance markers, and red blood cell fatty acid levels were taken using CMR (Cardiac Magnet Resonance) studies. After the study period, the same testing was completed.
Researchers found that participants who supplemented with the Omega-3 supplement and increased their Omega-3 index by 5% or more had a significant reduction in adverse cardiac events even after almost 7 years.
Further research is needed.
Here is some additional information about Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids:
Chemically a fatty acid is an organic acid with an acid group at one end of its molecule and a methyl at the other end. Fatty acids are categorized in the Omega groups 3, 6, or 9 according to the location of their last double bond.
An Essential Fatty Acid is a fatty acid that the body cannot manufacture by itself, in other words, it must be obtained through supplementation or through foods. 2 fatty acids are designated as essential fatty acids: linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. There are more fatty acids than these 2 specific essential fatty acids found in the Omega 3-6-9 groups but a healthy body may be able to manufacture them as long as there is enough linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, so they are considered non-essential fatty acids. There are however certain health benefits to be obtained by taking some of the non-essential fatty acids directly, especially in the case of the Omega 3 fatty acids.
The Need for More Omega 3
Humans evolved on a diet that had approximately a 1:1 ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA), today our Western diet contains a ratio of 15:1 – 16.7:1. A typical Western diet is deficient in Omega-3 Fatty Acids and has an overabundance of Omega-6 Fatty Acids when compared to the diet in which humans evolved and their genetic patterns were established. In a study done by The Harvard School of Public Health over 96,000 deaths in the US were attributed to being caused by an Omega-3 deficiency. Other research shows that excessive amounts of Omega-6 fatty acids and high Omega-6/Omega-3 ratios promote many types of diseases like autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Increasing Omega-3 Fatty Acid intake is necessary for a healthier population.
Molecular Distillation
The public was made aware of excessive levels of mercury, a neurotoxic heavy metal, as well as PCBs and other toxic organic compounds found in certain fish species from a well-publicized federal advisory in 2001. It was determined that fish oil supplements could also be subject to excessive levels of these neurotoxins. It makes choosing a “CLEAN” fish oil even more important than ever. For this very reason Viva Vitamins uses pure, high-quality, molecularly distilled Omega-3 EPA/DHA fish oil in the products they manufacture. Molecular distillation is a process where all heavy metals and PCBs are virtually removed from the fish oil. Additionally, extensive testing is performed to verify that all federal standards of purity have not just been met but have been surpassed.
So…….
Each gelcap of the Viva Vitamins Extra Strength Omega-3 contains 1000 mg of Fish Oil Concentrate and provides 600 mg of actual Cholesterol Free Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids, making this product much stronger than many other brands available. Additionally, lemon oil has been included in each gelcap to help reduce those disastrous “Fishy Burps” that can make supplementing Omega-3 very unpopular.