Higher levels of omega 3 in the blood are associated with a lower risk of premature death in the elderly. In one word, longevity. Taking these precious substances, contained not only in fish but in numerous plants, in fact, can reduce mortality by 27% and mortality related to heart disease by over a third (35%)
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous
Levels higher than omega 3 in the blood are associated with a lower risk of premature death in the elderly. In one word, longevity. Take these precious substances, contained not only in the fish but in many plants, in fact, it can reduce mortality by 27% and mortality linked to heart disease by over a third (35%).
That omega 3 are good for our health, this is nothing new, but a new study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) in collaboration with the University of Washington, has found that the elderly have the highest blood levels of acids fats in fish had lived an average of 2,2 years longer than their peers with the lowest levels.
The analysis was limited however only to the omega 3 present in fish, not to mention the no less important contribution of those present in some plants, for example in flax seed, in nuts and cereals, in some green leafy vegetables, in beans, peas, ceci. Nonetheless, the study is the first to directly relate blood biomarkers and fish consumption, referring to total mortality and specific causes of mortality in a general population.
So far, previous studies have shown that fish, rich in proteins and heart-healthy fatty acids, reduces the risk of death from heart disease. But the effect on other causes of death or total mortality had not yet been elucidated. In this lies the novelty of the research.
The researchers looked into 16 years of data from approximately 2.700 US adults a age 65 who had participated in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), a long-term study. Participants were from four US communities: North Carolina, California, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, and all were generally healthy. Periodically during follow-up, participants underwent blood tests, physical exams, and diagnostic tests, and were questioned about their health, medical history, and lifestyle.
The researchers analyzed the total percentage of blood fatty acids, including three more specific ones, in the participants' blood samples. The latter, both individually and combined, were associated with a significantly lower risk of mortality, not only related to heart disease. Overall, study participants with the highest levels of all three types of fatty acids had a 27% lower risk of total mortality.
"While eating fish has long been considered part of a healthy diet, few studies have looked at omega 3 blood levels and total deaths in older adults," he said research author Dariush Mozaffarian. "Our findings support the importance of adequate omega 3 levels in the blood for cardiovascular health, and suggest that in the long run these benefits could actually extend years of remaining life."
Optimistic outlook but limiting since it only considered the omega 3 intake provided by fish. Also vegetable they make an equally important contribution in this regard. It is clear that in order to take the substances needed by the body for the formation of omega 3 fatty acids, the fish it is by no means the only source, indeed. There are numerous plant alternatives, perhaps less known but undoubtedly equally valid.
Francesca Mancuso
Read also:
- Not just fish: the 5 plant sources of Omega 3
- Omega 3 to fight breast cancer
- Fish: rich in omega 3 but also in mercury
