Fish Oil Helps Statin Drugs Protect Your Heart
Researchers have known for some time that the more red meat you eat, the more likely you are to develop colon cancer. Now, a new study shows the same holds true If you take a cholesterol-lowering statin drug such as Lipitor or Zocor, you may also want to consider taking fish oil. A new study from Japanese researchers showed that people who took both had a better chance of avoiding heart problems than people taking statin drugs alone.
In the study, people were assigned to take a statin drug alone, or along with 1,800 mg a day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a component of fish oil. During an average follow-up for 4.6 years, the researchers observed a 19 percent reduction in some heart-related problems, such as non-fatal heart attacks, unstable angina and the need for coronary revascularization, in the people taking the fish oil. The study provides further evidence of the benefit of omega-3 fatty acids for protecting against heart attacks and other cardiac events, experts said. Omega-3s apparently help to stabilize artery-clogging plaque, and do it by a mechanism that is independent of cholesterol-lowering. (Yokoyama, M., et al. Lancet. 2007 Mar 31;369(9567):1090-8).
You can get the same amount of EPA used in this study by eating fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines or trout twice a week. Or you can take fish oil capsules and be assured of a daily heart-protecting dose.
