On August 31st, the Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivinza nell’Infarto Miocrdico Heart failure (GISSI-HF) trial was presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The study was also published online in the Lancet.

The study reinforces other recent clinical evidence indicating that omega-3 fatty acids administered to patients with symptomatic heart failure can decrease risk of mortality and admission to the hospital. The study investigated the use of omega-3s as well as the use of statins.

Dr. Luigi Tavazzi presented the omega-3 fatty acid data at the ESC press conference. Dr. Tavazzi stated that the use of omega-3s was an “effective, safe, simple, and cheap” treatment for those with chronic heart failure.

The double blind study was designed to investigate what effects omega-3 fatty acids and statin therapy would have on mortality and morbidity for patients who have symptomatic heart failure. Patients with chronic heart failure were enrolled and randomized to treatment with omega-3 fatty acids at a dose of 1 gram or a placebo. Patients were followed for nearly 4 years. End points of the study were either death or admission to the hospital for cardiovascular issues.

During the nearly 4 year study, it was shown that treatment with 1000 mg omega-3 fatty acids reduced the risk of mortality by 9% and admission to the hospital for cardiovascular issues by 8%. The study indicates that absolute risk reduction was 1.8%, however per-protocol analysis confirmed overall findings and showed that omega-3 fatty acids treatment reduced the absolute risk by 3.3% compared with placebo, or a 14% relative risk reduction.

There is some mystery as to what the exact mechanism is that reduces the risk of death or subsequent cardiac event. Dr. Tavazzi is reported as telling the online publication Heartwire that the “mechanisms of action in heart-failure patients are broader than post-MI [heart attack] patients”.

Dr. Gianni Tognoni from the Instituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, presented data regarding chronic heart failure patients treated with 10 mg of rosuvastatin. Those patients were also followed for nearly 4 years with end points being time to death or admission to the hospital for cardiovascular issues.

It was reported that after 3.9 years, no significant difference was observed between the group taking the statin drug and the group taking the placebo. TheHeart.org reports that while speaking with the media, Dr. Tognoni stated that the use of rosuvastatin or any statin products to patients with heart failure should not be considered because the use of the cholesterol-lowering drugs does not translate into any clinically meaningful benefit for heart failure patients.

In an editorial by Dr. Gregg Fonarow of the University of California, Los Angeles, he stated that “although statin therapy lowers concentrations of LDL cholesterol, is well tolerated, and seems reasonably safe, it does not produce meaningful improvements in survival in patients with chronic heart failure.”

The researchers of the GISSI-HF trial commented as to why the use of statins in the study failed to show a beneficial effect on clinical outcomes by indicating that while rosuvastatin reduced LDL cholesterol as well as hsCRP, that “these effects might no longer affect the progression of coronary artery disease in patients with Ischemic heart failure, perhaps because their effect is attenuated by a biological milieu not favoring the progression of coronary artery disease.”

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Per the American Heart Association (AHA 2008 Statistics) greater than 80 million people in the US have cardiovascular disease (CVD). That’s nearly 40% of the population. In year 2004, nearly 870,000 people died from CVD.

The use of statin drugs to lower cholesterol is under evaluation by well respected clinical institutions. The thrust of the research is not so much geared toward the safety of the drugs, rather the actual benefit derived from taking them, namely the prevention of death from a cardiovascular event. It is well proven that statin drugs are effective at lowering total cholesterol; however whether or not that action prolongs life is not conclusive.

Omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids consistently are shown to be cardio protective with virtually zero side effects. Omega-3s are endorsed by the American Heart Association (AHA), carry an authorized claim from the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), and are recommended by virtually all the major cardiology centers and clinics across the country.

The new GISSI-HF study provides even more evidence suggesting that the administration of omega-3s may be one of the most powerful tools in promoting heart health and reducing the risk of death from a cardiac event.

But here again is the problem: the GISSI-HF study reports a significant reduction in death or hospital admission due to cardiovascular issue when 1000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids are taken. That is 1000 mg omega-3s, not fish oil concentrate.

In response to this recent study publication, there will most likely be a media response that will be capitalized on by a portion of omega-3 supplement manufacturers. The results will be advertised, and products will be spotlighted. However, I doubt these other manufacturers will talk to the dosage of omega-3s used in the study.

As we here at PanGenex like to say, not all fish oil omega-3 supplements are equal, in fact, the majority of fish oil supplements provide less than 35% omega-3s, or around 300mg. Consider, for example, the typical off the shelf fish oil from the local retail drug store or big box mart. Looking at the label, you will see “total fat” or “fish oil concentrate.” That indicates the amount of total fat in the product. Now look for the omega-3 amount, sometimes only present in the amount of EPA/DHA. Most products will show around 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA in 1000 mg of fish oil (or total fat). That means that you would have to take 3-4 times the serving size to equal 1000 mg omega-3s (EPA + DHA) which also means you are getting greater than 2500 mg other, non-heart healthy omegas.

That means EXCESS fat.

Omeganol and LIPIDEME are formulated with concentrated fish oil that contains greater than 86% omega-3 fatty acids. One serving of Omeganol (two soft gels) provides over 1000 mg omega-3 fatty acids, while one serving of LIPIDEME provides greater than 1300 mg!

That means Omeganol and LIPIDEME provide:

1. More heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids
2. Less non-omega-3 FAT
3. Less calories
4. More value

Of course, the choice to take an omega-3 supplement is yours, but if you do decide to supplement with cardio protective omega-3s, doesn’t make sense to take a supplement that actually provides the right amount?

Wishing you the best health.

The PanGenex Team

Article references:

http://www.theheart.org/article/898959.do

http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1200082005246HS_Stats%202008.final.pdf