ABSTRACT
Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in fish oil. A high dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids has been strongly linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease in epidemiologic studies. Fish oil supplements lower triglyceride levels and may have other benefits such as preventing arrhythmias, reducing inflammation (although they have minimal impact on C-reactive protein), inhibiting platelet aggregation, and lowering blood pressure, all of which should reduce cardiovascular risk.
- Copyright © 2009 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
- Eric J. Chan, MD and
- Leslie Cho, MD⇑
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic
- Director, Women’s Cardiovascular Center, and Head, Section of Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic
- ADDRESS:
Leslie Cho, MD, Women’s Cardiovascular Center, Jb1, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195; e-mail chol{at}ccf.org.
ABSTRACT
Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in fish oil. A high dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids has been strongly linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease in epidemiologic studies. Fish oil supplements lower triglyceride levels and may have other benefits such as preventing arrhythmias, reducing inflammation (although they have minimal impact on C-reactive protein), inhibiting platelet aggregation, and lowering blood pressure, all of which should reduce cardiovascular risk.
- Copyright © 2009 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.