Moderate fish intake may preserve heart function
POSTED December 21, 2009 - 16:37 | POSTED BY Kangna Agarwal
Last edited by Kangna Agarwal on December 21, 2009 - 17:02
Findings of the study reveal that consuming this seafood one or two times in a week could lower the risk of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD)-- to impaired ventricular contraction-- in post acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.
According to Wikipedia, acute coronary syndrome is a set of signs and symptoms related to the heart.
1000 ACS patients studied
To determine whether consuming fish helps in lowering heart failure risk, researchers from the University of Athens carried out a study on 1000 heart patients.
They examined various factors such as demographics, nutrition, lifestyle, and medical factors together with the risk of developing left ventricular dysfunction after nonfatal heart failure.
Moderate fish consumption linked to lower heart failure risk
The researchers noted that patients who consumed a moderate intake of fish at least once or twice in a week, exhibited a reduced risk of developing left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD).
On the other hand, higher consumption of fish was not found to reduce the odds of developing LVSD.
Past studies have also find a positive association between judicious intake of fish and prevention of cardiovascular events.
More research required
Regardless of the promising outcomes of the study, the researchers feel there is a need for further research to draw a more tangible connection between fish consumption and preservation of heart's health.
Lead researcher Dr. D. Panagiotakos states, "More research is necessary in this area, including the determination of the type of fish consumed as well as the type of the cooking method (boiling, baking, frying."
The researchers have also quoted a study which states that regulated consumption of a wide variety of fish is best for reducing mercury exposure and increasing omega-3 fatty acid intake.
Findings of the current study are published in the journal Food Science.
Fish, healthy for heart
According to American Heart Association (AHA), fish is an important source of heart-protective vitamins and minerals and contains very little artery-dogging saturated fat.
It is also the best dietary source of omega-3 fats, which help in lowering the blood pressure, cleaning the arteries, thus keeping the heart healthy.
