Fish Oil / Omega-3's : Articles & Discussions

[OldGuy]

An article posted today.

Omega-3s can lower blood pressure
Fatty acids have small, but important effect on hypertension, study finds

DALLAS - A diet with liberal servings of fish, nuts and seeds rich in nutrients called omega-3 fatty acids can help lower a person’s blood pressure, according to a study.

“A large percentage of people between ages 20 and 60 have a rise in blood pressure, and by middle age many have high blood pressure,” said Dr. Jeremiah Stamler, professor emeritus of preventive medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, who worked on the study.

“We’re looking at dietary factors that may help prevent that rise, and omega-3 fatty acids are a small, but important piece of the action,” Stamler said.

The study looked at diet and its relation to blood pressure in 4,680 men and women, ages 40 to 59, who lived in Japan, China, Britain and the United States.

They all provided in-depth details about their diets and alcohol consumption, gave urine samples and had their blood pressure measured twice at each of four study visits.

Researchers then adjusted for 17 variables known to influence blood pressure such as age, gender, weight, salt intake and exercise.

The people who ate diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids had slightly lower blood pressure, on average, than people who ate diets with less of the nutrient, the researchers reported in the American Heart Association Journal Circulation.

“With blood pressure, every millimeter counts. The effect of each nutrient is apparently small but independent, so together they can add up to a substantial impact on blood pressure,” said Dr. Hirotsugu Ueshima of Shiga University of Medical Science in Otsu, Japan.

“If you can reduce blood pressure a few millimeters from eating less salt, losing a few pounds, avoiding heavy drinking, eating more vegetables, whole grains and fruits (for their fiber, minerals, vegetable protein and other nutrients) and getting more omega-3 fatty acids, then you’ve made a big difference,” Ueshima said in a statement.

When it comes to omega-3 fatty acids, not all fish or nuts are equal. Fatty fish such as trout, salmon and mackerel are rich in this crucial group of nutrients.

Walnuts, flaxseed and canola oil are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids and people who got their omega-3s from these sources had just as much benefit as those who get them by eating fish, the study found.

Omega-3 fatty acid intake has also been linked to better brain development and a lower overall risk of cancer and heart disease.

Copyright 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.

[Columbus_George]

A friend of mine had recommended these Fish Oil pills from 21st Century Vitamins. Does anyone have any experience with them?

http://www.21stcenturyvitamins.com/p...=331&c=3&sc=12

[Jimbo]

Here is almost the same exact tablet..I take these and they were cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NZ67EA/...A&linkCode=asn

I wouldn't spend too much extra on "special" fish oil tabs. There just not that much difference in the various brands despite all the marketing hype.

In my opinion.

[LisaS]

I just figure the cost per g of EPA/DHA combined. So far, 1 tsp of Carlson's gets me 800mg EPA & 500mg DHA at the best price per g. Flameout caps (from the t-nation folks) looks good but I haven't priced them out.

I think the flip side is important too though - limit the consumption of n-6 fats as you can.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by LisaS

I think the flip side is important too though - limit the consumption of n-6 fats as you can.

I hate to sound stupid. "But stupid is as stupid does."

What are "n-6" fats?

[LisaS]

sorry - "n" is kind of typing shorthand for omega - so n-3 = omega-3 FA and n-6 = omega-6 FA

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Here is almost the same exact tablet..I take these and they were cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NZ67EA/...A&linkCode=asn

I wouldn't spend too much extra on "special" fish oil tabs. There just not that much difference in the various brands despite all the marketing hype.

In my opinion.

I realize the falacy of my statement above after looking harder at some of the links on the sticky page.. There are obviously fish oil caps with higher concentrations of EPA/DHA available.

So...I take it back. There are better ones out there. But I eat 6 caps of these a day and get 6g of fish oil..I figure I'm covered.(cheaply)

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by LisaS

sorry - "n" is kind of typing shorthand for omega - so n-3 = omega-3 FA and n-6 = omega-6 FA

Lisa, what are sources of Omega-6? Is that in the fish oil caps? And how much n-6 is too much?

Sorry..but I have been reading through the links and didn't spot that.

[LisaS]

As I recall, refined oils and grains are the primary sources. I'll find you some links on the ratio issue (not that I'm the linkster Lisa, but I've got them here somewhere). I think Roland might have some too as he's mentioned the ratio as well in other posts.

[RedLefty]

Originally Posted by LisaS

sorry - "n" is kind of typing shorthand for omega - so n-3 = omega-3 FA and n-6 = omega-6 FA

That makes sense, because the letter "n" is so prominent in the word "omega".

RNEISOF! That stands for "lay 'em down and smacken yackem!"

Note: I"m sure that the true reasoning for the "n" does actually make sense in the scientific world, which I'm obvlious to. So I hide it through sarcasm.

[RacerBill]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Lisa, what are sources of Omega-6? Is that in the fish oil caps? And how much n-6 is too much?

Sorry..but I have been reading through the links and didn't spot that.

Omega-6 FAs turn up in high concentrations in many polyunsaturated oils, especially soybean and corn oil. Also corn-fed beef tend to be high in Omega-6. Grass-fed beef have a greater concentration of Omega-3.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by RedLefty

That makes sense, because the letter "n" is so prominent in the word "omega".

RNEISOF! That stands for "lay 'em down and smacken yackem!"

Note: I"m sure that the true reasoning for the "n" does actually make sense in the scientific world, which I'm obvlious to. So I hide it through sarcasm.

Plain as the nose on you face. The letter "n" stands for "nasty", as in, "Don't eat too much of that "nasty" fat.:p

Omega-6 FAs turn up in high concentrations in many polyunsaturated oils, especially soybean and corn oil. Also corn-fed beef tend to be high in Omega-6. Grass-fed beef have a greater concentration of Omega-3.

Thanks RB

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by RacerBill

Omega-6 FAs turn up in high concentrations in many polyunsaturated oils, especially soybean and corn oil. Also corn-fed beef tend to be high in Omega-6. Grass-fed beef have a greater concentration of Omega-3.

What Bill said.

Also, beware labelling. Just because something says is a good source of Omega-3s, doesn't mean it's actually good.

Best Foods Light Mayo has a sticker that says "Excellent Source of Omega 3 (ALA) 20% of the Daily Value of ALA (1300mg)"

I'd like to add products like Best Foods Light Mayonnaise to this list. I just saw this today. Big sticker on top that says "Excellent Source of Omega 3 (ALA) 20% of the Daily Value of ALA (1300mg)"

Based on my whole Omega-3 to 6 balance concept, this is absolutely ridiculous. The #2 ingredient on the list is soybean oil (water is #1). You can eat more and more of this stuff to "get your Omega-3s," but for every 300mg of 3s, you get 2300mg of 6s, sending you farther away from balance.

Yes, we have a problem with not getting enough Omega-3 in our diets, but I think the bigger issue is how do we reduce the intake of Omega-6s. This mayo isn't the way. Not by a long shot.

Shameless source

Smart Balance is crap, too. Despite what they claim. All it is is better than corn oil margerine.

[LisaS]

I think "n" is used because it looks like upper case omega and sometimes w is used because it looks like lower case omega.

[Lost Dog]

Also, keep in mind that most foods are a mixture of different types of fat.

Even though they contain 3s and 6s, compared to the other fats, it's not all that big a deal.

100g of tri tip, for instance... The 6s and 3s are trivial

Total Fat, 5.6g
Saturated Fat, 1.7g
Monounsaturated Fat, 2.5g
Polyunsaturated Fat, 0.2g
Total Omega-3 fatty acids, 20.0mg
Total Omega-6 fatty acids, 187mg

Hey, look! Beef's mostly mono fats!

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

Also, beware labelling. Just because something says is a good source of Omega-3s, doesn't mean it's actually good.

Best Foods Light Mayo has a sticker that says "Excellent Source of Omega 3 (ALA) 20% of the Daily Value of ALA (1300mg)"

That should be illegal.