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Research: ISO and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 139
Abstract
ISO and colleagues, Department of Public Health Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki-ken, Japan, have reported on the results of a very large study on n-3 fatty acids and heart disease.
Background
Once- or twice-weekly consumption of fish (or a small amount of fish oil) reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death in Western countries. One of the aims of this study was to clarify whether a high frequency or large amount of fish intake, as is the case in Japan, further reduces the risk.
Methodology
A total of 41,578 Japanese men and women aged 40 to 59 years who were free of prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and cancer and who completed a food frequency questionnaire were followed up from 1990-1992 to 2001.
Results
After 477,325 person-years of follow-up, 258 incident cases of coronary heart disease were documented, comprising 196 nonfatal and 62 fatal coronary events. The multivariable hazard ratios in the highest (8 times per week, or median intake=180 g/d) versus lowest (once a week, or median intake=23 g/d) quintiles of fish intake were 0.63 for total coronary heart disease, 0.44 for definite myocardial infarction, and 1.14 for sudden cardiac death. The reduced risk was primarily observed for nonfatal coronary events (Hazard Ratio 0.43) but not for fatal coronary events (Hazard Ratio 1.08). Strong inverse associations existed between dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids and risk of definite myocardial infarction (Hazard Ratio 0.35) and nonfatal coronary events (Hazard Ratio 0.33).
Conclusion
Compared with a modest fish intake of once a week or up to 20 grams daily, a higher intake was associated with substantially reduced risk of nonfatal cardiac events among middle-aged persons.
References
Iso H. et al. Intake of fish and n-3 fatty acids and risk of coronary heart disease among Japanese: the Japan Public Health Center-Based (JPHC) Study Cohort I. Circulation 113 (2): 195-202, Jan 17, 2006.
