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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : October 15, 2014 3:48 PM IST
If you suffer from heart disease, and fish oil might be one way to help keep your heart healthy, you are wrong. These supplements, although rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, do not reduce atrial fibrillation, a common type of irregular heartbeat, found a study led by an Indian-origin researcher. 'Fish oil has no role in the rhythm-control management of atrial fibrillation,' said lead investigator Anil Nigam, associate professor at the University of Montreal. 'What is well-known and should be recommended to prevent heart disease and reduce blood pressure is a diet rich in natural omega-3 fats and other nutrients, including fresh fruits and veggies, legumes, olive oil, while lowering intake of red meat, transfats and saturated fats,' Nigam added.
For the trial, 337 patients with atrial fibrillation not receiving conventional anti-arrhythmic therapy were randomly assigned to four grams of fish oil a day or to placebo for up to 16 months. The researchers found that 64.1 percent of patients who had received fish oil experienced a recurrence of atrial fibrillation compared to 63.2 percent of those taking placebo. Furthermore, the study concluded that fish oil supplements did not reduce inflammation, which may explain its lack of efficacy. (Read: Suffering from heart disease? Here are foods you should avoid)
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia. The risk of developing atrial fibrillation increases with age and with other risk factors such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. The study appeared in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. (Read: 10 common types of heart disease you should know about)
Here are tips to prevent heart disease
1. Get regular medical check-ups done to make sure you are not suffering from asymptomatic high blood pressure, abnormal lipid profile or pre-diabetic condition. If you are, meet an expert and take steps to control the condition it will require a multidisciplinary approach with special attention to dietary changes.
2. Make a conscious effort to add fibre to your diet. Eat green leafy vegetables, salads, fruits, and cereals like oats. Five servings of fruits and vegetables per day play a preventive role.
3. Keep a check on your weight and fat percentage. Maintaining a healthy weight and controlled fat percentage goes a long way in keeping heart diseases at bay. Read more about 10 simple tips to prevent heart disease
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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