20 Mar New Study Finds that Fish Oil Reduces the Risk of Heart Issues

In a recent study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, doctors found that the fish-oil derived medication known as Vascepa significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular events for those with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and other such cardiovascular events. The medication contains high doses of the omega 3 fatty acid known as EPA, which is commonly found in over-the-counter fish oil supplements but in much smaller doses. Dr. Michael Blaha, who is the director of clinical research at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, concluded, “I think this is going to be a landmark study. It’s remarkable.”

The results from the study truly are remarkable: there was a 24% reduction in cardiovascular death, nonfatal heart attack and nonfatal stroke within the control group of patients who took part in this groundbreaking study. The study also found that the prescription drug Vascepa, scientifically known as icosapent ethyl, may contain anti-inflammatory and cell membrane-stabilizing properties that further contribute to reducing cardiovascular events.

A similar approach can be to use pharmaceutical fish oil in similar doses to those used in the study for a much lower price than the name brand mentioned above. Functional and integrative medicine physicians have been using a similar approach in high-risk patients for years. Big Pharma is catching up and hoping to cash in with their new “drug”. High dose fish oil is nothing new, but now large scale scientific studies are beginning to prove that which we (integrative medicine specialists) have long believed.