Diabetic patients who have experienced a heart attack may get protection from future irregular heart beats and fatal heart attacks by taking daily doses of omega-3 fatty acids (DHA,ALAand EPA).
In the study published in the journal of Diabetes Care, researchers evaluated the effect of omega-3 fatty acids in 1014 diabetic patients aged 60 to 80 years who had had a heart attack within the previous 10 years.
Patients were assigned to one of the following treatment and were followed for 40 months.
1) Margarines containing EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) at 400 mg/d
2) Margarines containing (ALA) α-linolenic acid at 2 g/d
3) Margarines containing EPA, DHA andALA
4) Margarines with placebo
During the 40-month follow-up period, the group that received the combination of all 3 fatty acids has a 72% lower incidence of irregular heart beats and fatal heart attack than the group taking placebo.
To obtain omega-3 fatty acids, you don’t need to take the pills. You can also get omega-3 fatty acids from eating fish, vegetables and walnuts.
Before this study was published, omega-3 fatty acids have also been shown to improve the brain function in babies of mothers who consumed omega-3s.
Source: Diabetes Care 2011; 34;2515-2520
Please visit us at healthreason.com for more health related articles
