Omega-3 Fatty Acids & Statin Drugs Effectively Reduce Mortality Risk

A review published in the April 11, 2005 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine analyzed the effects of various lipid-lowering regimens on overall mortality and mortality from coronary heart disease. Researchers reviewed 97 clinical trials that included 137,140 men and women receiving treatment and 138,976 control subjects. This analysis compared the mortality risk associated with diet, lipid-lowering drugs, omega-3 fatty acids (commonly found in fish oils), and niacin.

Statins (a class of lipid-lowering drugs) and omega-3 fatty acids significantly lowered both overall and coronary heart disease mortality risk during the trial periods. When compared to controls, overall mortality risk was reduced 13 percent by statin drugs and 23 percent by omega-3 fatty acids. When the risk of mortality from heart disease alone was examined, the use of statin drugs and omega-3 fatty acids were found to lower the risk by 22 and 32 percent, respectively.

Since omega-3 fatty acids did not reduce cholesterol levels significantly, researchers suggest that protection against heart arrhythmias, in addition to known anti-inflammatory properties, may be responsible for the reduction in mortality risk.

Arch Intern Med. 2005 Apr 11;165(7):725-30

Internet-based Lifestyle Program Improves Body Composition & Markers of Metabolic Health

Metabolic syndrome involves a cluster of risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These factors include abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance or glucose intolerance. Metabolic syndrome has become increasingly common as overweight and obesity rates have risen.

Research published in the August 2009 journal Obesity and Weight Management confirms the effectiveness of an Internet-based lifestyle change program in supporting weight loss and improvements in cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Sixty individuals with metabolic syndrome were studied before, during, and after a 12-week online lifestyle intervention program. The 12-week Healthy for Life program was delivered via the internet but involved using standard weight loss tools, including meal replacements, self-monitoring, behavioral change strategies, and low-glycemic diets.

The nutritional supplements, meal replacement shakes, and snack bars used in this study were supplied by USANA Health Sciences.

The intervention resulted in an average weight loss of 5.4%. Fasting insulin was reduced 32.3% while insulin sensitivity was increased by 31.6%. Triglycerides, total cholesterol, and blood pressure were also significantly improved. Nearly half the subjects no longer met the criteria for metabolic syndrome at the conclusion of the study.

The results of this study show that an Internet-based lifestyle change program can result in meaningful weight loss and improved cardiovascular health in overweight individuals with metabolic syndrome. The researchers noted that given the need for strategies to help large numbers of obese individuals achieve weight loss, these results are significant.

Wyatt, et al. Successful internet-based lifestyle change program on body weight and markers of metabolic health. Obesity and Weight Management 2009 August; 5(4): 150-153.