Omega-3 Research

Back to Index Page

von Schacky, Clemens, MD, "The Effect of Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Coronary Atheroschlerosis," Annals of Internal Medicine, Volume 130, Number 7, April 6, 1999, 554562.

Patients with coronary artery disease who ingested approximately 1.5 g. of Omega-3 fatty acids per day for 2 years had less progression of coronary artery disease than did comparable patients who ingested a placebo.

223 patients aged 18-75, treated in a German university preventive cardiology unit, with angiographically proven coronary artery disease—atheroschlerosis—participated in this study between September 1992 and May 1994. 111 randomly assigned participants took fish oil concentrate and 112 randomly assigned participants took a placebo with a fatty acid composition resembling that of the average European diet. Pairs of angiograms—one taken at the beginning and one taken two years later—were evaluated for both disease progression and disease regression.

Over the two-year study period, the ranks of participants in the groups were reduced for various coronary and non-coronary reasons, such as coronary bypass surgery and non-compliance in capsule intake. As a result, 47 pairs of angiograms in the placebo group and 54 pairs in the fish oil group were compared to show disease progression and regression over twenty four months. The study results may confirm other studies where a daily dose of Omega-3 fatty acids produced a 29% reduction in total mortality rates in the first 2 years after a first myocardial infarction. It may further suggest that improvements in coronary vasomotion (blood vessel width) may result in smaller, less deadly myocardial infarctions.

Finally, the study results may corroborate a wealth of data supporting an anti-atheroscherotic effect of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Back to Index Page