| When flax oil vs fish oil for heart health protection, | | | | Journal of Cardiology. [ Vol. 96, December 2005, pp. |
| the research shows that fish oil wins over flax oil. | | | | 1521-29] |
| This is particularly important if you want to protect | | | | Dr. Harper and Dr. Jacobson concluded that the data |
| yourself and those you care about from heart | | | | on ALA and flax oil was very limited and showed NO |
| disease. | | | | significant heart health benefits. Whereas fish oil with |
| So, what is the specific research in relation to flax oil | | | | DHA and EPA demonstrated a significant reduction in |
| vs fish oil? | | | | coronary heart disease fatality, sudden death and |
| In one recent study of 14 controlled clinical trials, | | | | total mortality. |
| researchers at Emory University found that the fish | | | | Several of the studies found that omega 3 fish oil |
| oil omega 3 studies showed a significant reduction in | | | | with DHA and EPA fatty acids reduced heart attack |
| deaths from coronary heart disease and total | | | | risk by benefiting the blood vessel wall cells, lowering |
| mortality - from any cause. | | | | the risk of thrombosis and blood clotting and by |
| These fish oil studies were based on dietary fish | | | | reducing inflammation. |
| consumption and fish oil supplements as the source | | | | Other research, published in Circulation, the official |
| of omega 3 fish oil. | | | | journal of the American Heart Association, gives a |
| On the other hand, studies based on flax oil and | | | | thorough rundown on how omega 3 fatty acids from |
| alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega 3 oil from plants | | | | fish improves heart health and why fish oil works so |
| that doesn't contain the DHA and EPA factors found | | | | well for the cardiovascular system in numerous ways. |
| in cold water fatty fish, were found to be less | | | | This study shows that fish oil fatty acids help by |
| reliable and did not show the same health benefits. | | | | lowering cholesterol, preventing irregular heartbeat, |
| The plant based ALA trials used flax oil supplements | | | | reducing blood clots, decreasing blood pressure, |
| and ALA enriched diets, including walnut, soybean and | | | | lowering triglycerides, balancing HDL and LDL, relaxing |
| flax seed oil. | | | | arterial walls and preventing the formation of new |
| The lead Emory University researchers, C. R. Harper | | | | plaque, inflammation, vasoconstriction, platelet |
| and T. A. Jacobson, reviewed the omega 3 clinical trial | | | | aggregation and more. [Vol. 106:2747] |
| studies by dividing them into categories. There were | | | | Based on these successful studies, the American |
| plant based omega 3 studies using only ALA (mainly | | | | Heart Association suggests that everyone increase |
| flax oil) and studies on dietary consumption of omega | | | | their consumption of DHA and EPA rich fish and fish |
| 3 fish oil with DHA (docsahexaenoic acid) and EPA | | | | oil supplements to a daily dose of at least 1 gram. For |
| (eicosapentaenoic acid). | | | | optimum health, those with coronary heart disease |
| Of the 14 studies, eight were conducted on flax oil | | | | might consider taking more. |
| and other ALA sources and six were based on fish | | | | When it comes to flax oil vs fish oil for heart health, |
| oil. The fish oil research included one very large study | | | | the fish wins, fins down! |
| of over 10,000 participants published in the American | | | | |