Fish rich in omega 3 protects cardiovascular risk in young women

Consumption of fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids such as cod, salmon, herring and mackerel, could reduce cardiovascular disease risk in young women of childbearing age , according to research published today in Hypertension .

According to the researchers, women who ate no fish or sometimes did counted were 50% more cardiovascular problems at eight years follow-up period than those who ate fish regularly. Compared with women who ate fish rich in omega-3 week, the risk was 90% higher for those who never or almost never ate fish.

The researchers analyzed data from a population cohort of 49,000 Danish national women aged between 15 and 49. The researchers recorded 577 cardiovascular events over a period of eight years, including five deaths from cardiovascular disease in women without a diagnosis of the disease. In total, 328 events were due to hypertensive disease, cerebrovascular disease and 146 to 103 by ischemic heart disease.

Young Women

"This is the first study of this size that has focused exclusively on women of childbearing age," said Marin Strøm, the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen (Denmark). The message of this study, he said, is that although it was thought that the benefits of eating fish rich in omega 3 may not be evident for 30 or 40 years, our study shows that not always the case. "We have seen a strong association with cardiovascular disease in women who still were still in their thirties."

"Men and women share many risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but studies have shown that there may also be gender differences. For example, levels of inflammation, cholesterol and triglyceride levels may have a negative influence on women, "said Strom.

In this study, even women who ate fish only a couple of times a month benefited, but it is noteworthy that the greatest benefit for fish and fish oils should eat fish as a main dish at least twice a week .