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Fishy, but fact

PHOTO: K. ANANTHAN

EAT AWAY As much fish as you like

Finding ways to lower the risk of heart disease?

Well, then start filling up your tummy with large quantities of fish loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, says a new study.

According to the research, a lifetime of eating tuna, sardines, salmon and other fish appears to protect Japanese men against clogged arteries, despite other cardiovascular risk factors.

The study, which is to appear in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, suggests that the protection comes from omega-3 fatty acids found in abundance in oily fish. The research found that third- and fourth-generation Japanese Americans had similar or even higher levels of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries — a major risk factor for heart disease, compared to white Americans.

The study was conducted at two universities and one research institute in the U.S. and Japan to compare serum levels of omega-3 fatty acids and atherosclerosis among Japanese, white American and Japanese American men.

Based on data from 868 men between the ages of 40 and 49, Japanese men had the lowest levels of atherosclerosis and two times higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids than white Americans or Japanese Americans.

“Our study suggests that very high levels of omega-3 fatty acids have strong properties that may help prevent the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries,” said Akira Sekikawa, M.D., Ph.D., study lead author and assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. — ANI

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