News Release: Regular consumption of foods rich in omega-3s, including walnuts and fish, can reduce risk of death three years after suffering a heart attack.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that regular consumption of foods high in omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), found in marine foods like fatty fish, and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), found in plant foods like walnuts, was associated with improved outcomes in individuals who suffered a heart attack, including decreased risk of death.
The observational study, backed by the California Walnut Commission and reinforced by an editorial in the same publication entitled A Revolution in Omega-3 Fatty Acid Research, involved 944 participants who experienced a very serious heart attack in which one of the hearts major arteries was blocked.
Heart disease is the principal cause of death in America and every 40 seconds someone goes through a heart attack. Of those older than 45 years of age, 36% of men and 47% of women who have undergone a heart attack will die from their next heart attack if it occurs within five years of the original.
A lead researcher in the study, Dr Aleix Sala-Vila, Research Associate at IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute) and Barcelonaeta Brain Research Center, explains, Heart attacks are still very common, and apart from treatments to keep the patient alive, researchers have been searching for approaches to ensure the quality of life of the victim after the heart attack.
What is novel about this study is that it shows that ALA and EPA appear to be allies in promoting the long-term outcomes of heart attack sufferers. Using both marine and plant-based omega-3s, from foods like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseed seems to offer the greatest protection.
Specifically, the researchers found that those who gave higher blood levels of ALA were at a reduced risk of three-year all-cause mortality. Also, those with greater levels of EPA were at a reduced risk of death or requiring hospital readmission for cardiovascular reasons.
Walnuts have long been recognised as a heart-healthy food 1, backed by more than 30 years of research proving positive outcomes related to cardiovascular health such as cholesterol, blood pressure, inflammation, endothelial function, and plaque formation. Walnuts are also the only nut with an excellent source of omega-3 ALA, providing 2.5 grams per one ounce.
