Omega-3, which has been plagued by controversy with results varying from study to study, has now received the backing of studies that support its effectiveness.
This time, the results showed that the higher the body concentration of DHA, one of the components of omega-3, the lower the mortality rate.
The results of a study on the relationship between plasma DHA concentration and mortality conducted by researchers including Evan O’Keefe of the American Heart Institute at St. Luke’s were published in the Mayo Clinic Journal on the 20th (doi.org/10.1016/j. mayocp.2023.11.026).
Omega-3 fatty acids, found primarily in fish oil, consist of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Omega-3 is known to lower triglyceride levels and inflammatory responses and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, but results vary from clinical study to study and there is still controversy over its actual effectiveness.
Researchers studied 117,702 participants from April 2007 to December 2021, based on data from the UK Biobank, to evaluate the association between plasma DHA levels and long-term all-cause mortality, cardiovascular (CV) mortality ) and cancer mortality. Follow-up was conducted for 12.7 years.
Associations with mortality risk endpoints were analyzed by quintile of plasma DHA levels.
The analysis showed that when comparing the lowest and highest quintiles of DHA levels, the risk of death from all causes was 21% lower (HR, 0.79).
In the secondary analysis, results from 17 prospective cohort studies and the Fatty Acid and Outcome Research Consortium (FORCE) meta-analysis of 42,702 subjects examining the association between DHA and mortality were combined with results from the UK Biobank.
The cumulative sample population included 160,404 individuals and 24,342 deaths over 14 years of follow-up.
After multivariable adjustment for relevant risk factors, there was a 17% reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality and a 21% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality when comparing the lowest and highest quintiles of DHA.
The risk of cancer mortality was reduced by 17% and the risk of all other deaths was reduced by 15%.
“Higher plasma levels of DHA were associated with a significantly reduced risk of all-cause mortality and a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all other causes,” the researchers said. “The results support the hypothesis that DHA can support CV health and longevity. “We will strengthen it,” he concluded.
#Omega #research #mortality #rate
