Omega-3 fatty acid medications can boost cardiovascular health
25 August, 2019
As cases of obesity and diabetes are on the rise, so are their complications. One complication that has recently been a point of focus for the American Heart Association (AHA) is high triglyceride levels.
Triglycerides are fats in the blood. Some are naturally produced by the liver, while others come from calories that the body doesn't need to use immediately. The more calories a person takes in, the likelier they are to have a high triglyceride count.
Higher levels, calculated as above 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), can increase a person's risk of having a stroke or heart attack by causing a narrowing of the arteries.
Estimates suggest that around a quarter of the adult population of the United States may have triglyceride levels above 150 mg/dl.
Exceedingly high levels — above 500 mg/dl — can also result in inflammation of the pancreas, otherwise known as pancreatitis.
Thankfully, there are a few ways to reduce triglyceride levels. Getting regular exercise, reducing alcohol consumption, and eliminating sugar and refined carbohydrates can help, as can other steps to maintain a healthy weight, such as swapping saturated for unsaturated fats.
Turning to medication
Sometimes, these changes are not enough to make a substantial difference. If this is the case, a doctor will rule out conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism before prescribing medication for high triglyceride levels.
Currently, two triglyceride-lowering prescriptions exist, and both involve omega-3 fatty acids. One contains a fatty acid called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The other combines EPA with a second fatty acid: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Previous research had not compared the effects of these medications. But a recent review-based advisory from the AHA, published in its journal Circulation, has concluded that both are equally effective.
The researchers based their findings on an analysis of 17 clinical trials and found that "Treatment with 4 grams daily of any of the available prescription choices is effective," explains first study author Ann Skulas-Ray, Ph.D., from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Arizona, in Tucson.
Skulas-Ray also notes that these medications can be "used safely in conjunction with statin medicines that lower cholesterol."
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