Fish Oil and Cholesterol & Fish Oil and Heart Disease

Scientific research results of fish oil and cholesterol control support the suggestion that a dietary supplement of quality fish oil may improve levels of good cholesterol, and possibly slightly lower bad cholesterol.

Moreover, fish oil may reduce levels of triglycerides in the blood stream. Having high triglycerides is a major marker for heart disease. Study of the fish oil cholesterol connection is on-going and continues to support the accepted belief that that there is a link between dietary supplementation of fish oil and heart disease prevention.

Scientists study the relationship between the consumption of omega-3 rich fish oil and cholesterol levels in an effort to explain and understand the reduced incidence of heart disease in people whose diet consists largely of fatty fish.

Build up of bad (LDL) cholesterol in the arteries leading to the heart and the brain is called atherosclerosis and can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Medical experts believe that good (HDL) cholesterol carries the bad cholesterol back to the liver (where it is safely disposed of) and reduces the build up in the arteries. Since fish oil may increase good cholesterol, this may be one reason for the link between fish oil and heart disease prevention.

Fish Oil and Heart Disease

When studying fish oil and cholesterol, triglyceride levels are also measured. Triglycerides are fats. People with high levels of bad cholesterol and low levels of good cholesterol also have high triglyceride levels. Many people with heart disease have high triglyceride levels. The reason for the link between fish oil and heart disease prevention may be that fish oil consumption reduces the levels of triglycerides circulating in the bloodstream.

It is commonly accepted by the medical community that a daily dietary supplement of fish oil may help to prevent heart disease, even though scientists do not know exactly why.

While scientists continue to research the subject of fish oil and cholesterol and its effects on heart disease, we continue to take our supplements of purified fish oil and wait for them to come up with an answer.

It may be a long time before researchers know why or how, but currently both the American Heart Association and the Food and Drug Administration have stated that omega 3 fatty acids are important for people with heart disease.

And fish oils are one of the best sources of Omega 3's.