02/20/2024
Thank you Lynn, owner Viva Vitamins in Lake Forest for this important discussion on this topic.
Study Links Higher Omega-3 Levels to Decreased Stroke Risk:
A new study recently published in the journal Stroke found a lower stroke risk in people with the highest Omega-3 levels. This study also calls into question correlations between increased risks of brain hemorrhaging and Omega-3.
A pooled and harmonized analysis of over 183,000 participants, taken from 29 prospective studies performed in multiple countries, was conducted. Researchers identified approximately 10,500 stroke victims, 8,200 ischemic strokes, and 1,150 hemorrhagic strokes. This data was recorded over a median of 14.3-year follow-up.
When the association between tissue and circulating Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids was investigated, researchers found participants in the highest 20% of the Omega-3 level category had a 17% reduced risk for total strokes compared with participants in the lowest 20% of the Omega-3 level category. Similar results were seen in participants reporting ischemic strokes. Both EPA and DPA were not associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
Researchers felt the easiest way to explain why Omega-3 reduced stroke risk was related to the blood-thinning effect of Omega-3, very similar to the effects seen when taking a low-dose aspirin. Additionally another contributing benefit of Omega-3 was the reduction in blood triglyceride levels and an overall anti-inflammatory benefit seen with Omega-3 supplementation.
According to information provided by the World Stroke Organization, 1 in 4 adults will suffer a stroke in their lifetime. This is a 50% increase in strokes over the last 20 years making strokes the second leading cause of death throughout the world.
The cost for rehabilitation and treatment of strokes plus the indirect costs of strokes could easily reach over $ 2 trillion by 2050.
Further research is needed.
Here is some additional information about Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids:
Chemically a fatty acid is an organic acid with an acid group at one end of its molecule and a methyl at the other end. Fatty acids are categorized in the Omega groups 3, 6, or 9, according to the location of their last double bond.
An Essential Fatty Acid is a fatty acid that the body cannot manufacture by itself, in other words they must be obtained through supplementation or through foods. There are 2 fatty acids that are designated as essential fatty acids: linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. There are more fatty acids than these 2 specific essential fatty acids found in the Omega 3-6-9 groups but a healthy body may be able to manufacture them as long as there is enough linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, so they are considered non-essential fatty acids. There are however certain health benefits to be obtained by using some of the non-essential fatty acids directly, especially in the case of the Omega 3 fatty acids.
The Need for More Omega 3
Humans evolved on a diet that had approximately a 1:1 ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA), today our Western diet contains a ratio of 15:1 – 16.7:1. A typical Western diet is deficient in Omega-3 Fatty Acids and has an overabundance of Omega-6 Fatty Acids when compared to the diet in which humans evolved and their genetic patterns were established. In a study done by The Harvard School of Public Health over 96,000 deaths in the US were attributed to being caused by an Omega-3 deficiency. Other research shows that excessive amounts of Omega-6 fatty acids and high Omega-6/Omega-3 ratios promote many types of diseases like autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Increasing Omega-3 Fatty Acid intake is necessary for a healthier population.
Molecular Distillation
The public was made aware of excessive levels of mercury, a neurotoxic heavy metal, as well as PCBs and other toxic organic compounds found in certain fish species from a well-publicized federal advisory in 2001. It was determined that fish oil supplements could also be subject to excessive levels of these neurotoxins. It makes choosing a “CLEAN” fish oil even more important than ever. For this very reason Viva Vitamins uses pure, high-quality, molecularly distilled Omega-3 EPA/DHA fish oil in the products they manufacture. Molecular distillation is a process where all heavy metals and PCBs are virtually removed from the fish oil. Additionally, extensive testing is performed to verify that all federal standards of purity have not just been met but have been surpassed.
So…….
Each gelcap of the Viva Vitamins Extra Strength Omega-3 contains 1000 mg of Fish Oil Concentrate and provides 600 mg of actual Cholesterol Free Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids, making this product much stronger than many other brands available .