Positive Health Online

Abstract

HU and colleagues, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, Mass 02115, USA, frank.hu@channing,harvard.edu, have investigated the link between fish and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption and coronary heart disease in diabetic women.

Background

Although it seems clear that there is an inverse association between the intake of fish containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and coronary heart disease, only limited data are available for diabetes patients.

Methodology

In this prospective study, the association between intake of fish and n-3 fatty acids and risk of coronary heart disease and mortality was studied among 5103 women with diagnosed type II diabetes but free of cardiovascular disease or cancer at baseline. Between 1980 and 1996, 141 deaths from coronary heart disease and 221 nonfatal myocardial infarctions were recorded in the study population.

Results

Compared to women who ate fish less than once a month, the relative risks of coronary heart disease were 0.70 for fish 1 to 3 times a month, 0.60 for fish once a week, 0.64 for fish 2 to 4 times a week, and 0.36 for fish at least 5 times a week (p for trend 0.002). Higher consumption of fish was also associated with significantly lower mortality. Higher consumption of n-3 polyunsaturates was associated with a trend towards lower incidence of coronary heart disease and lower mortality.

Conclusion

A higher consumption of fish was associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease and total mortality among diabetic women.

References

Hu FB, Cho E, Rexrode KM, Albert CM, Manson JE. Fish and long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake and risk of coronary heart disease and total mortality in diabetic women. Circulation 107 (14): 1852-1857, Apr 2003.