The heart health benefits of eating fish and the omega-3 fatty acids it contains are well-documented in over 35 years of research. However, most of these studies focused on men and older people. Now a new study has found that young women can also experience heart-protective benefits from consuming omega-3 rich fish.

Danish researchers found that young women who rarely or never ate fish high in omega-3 had 50% more cardiovascular problems over eight years than those who ate fish regularly.

The risk of cardiovascular disease was also 90% higher for women who consumed little or no fish compared to women who ate fish weekly.

Study Details

The researchers analyzed data from nearly 49,000 Danish pregnant women between the ages of 15 and 49. The women were asked about dietary behaviors and then researchers followed up by checking hospital records for CVD related admissions. Both inpatient and outpatient admission for cardiovascular disease was much more common among women who reported eating little or no fish.

The women who never ate fish had a three-fold higher disease risk compared to women who ate fish every week.

These results were based solely on dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids via fish consumption. Women who took fish oil supplements were excluded from the analyses.

Benefits Now and Later

Encouraging younger generations to eat healthy is a challenge when the benefits may not be evident for 30 or 40 years. However, when it comes to fish and heart benefits, the new study shows that the benefits of omega-3 from fish consumption can be seen in a relatively short time. “We saw a strong association with cardiovascular disease in the women who were still in their late 30's," said lead researcher, Dr Marin Strøm of the Statens Serum Institut, Denmark. Even women who ate fish only a few of times a month benefited, she said.

Women who eat fish should find the results encouraging, but it is important to emphasize that to obtain the greatest benefit from fish and fish oils, women should follow the dietary recommendations to eat fish as a main meal at least twice a week.

Source:

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