Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Agawam MA

Diseases of the heart and circulation are so common and the public is so well acquainted with the major symptoms that result from cardiovascular disorders which patients, and occasionally physicians, wrongly attribute many unrelated complaints to cardiovascular disease (CVD). It should not be a surprise that this occurs since most patients are aware that cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. There are four principle properties of the cardiovascular system that can be evaluated to provide information to help manage cardiovascular disease. These include movement of electrical signals through the heart, heart pump function, blood flow through the heart, and anatomy. There are many risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Three that cannot be changed are older age, male gender, and a family history of CVD. Additionally, three other major risk factors include cigarette smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Other identified factors associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease include lack of exercise, diabetes, obesity, too much alcohol, increased homocysteine levels, certain infections and inflammation, estrogens, androgens, and certain psychosocial factors. The combination of multiple risk factors must also be considered.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the longest and most unsaturated of the omega-3 fatty acids. DHA is one of the most abundant fatty acids in the brain. In the fetus and young infant, DHA is essential for proper growth and development of the brain, nervous system, and for the retina of the eyes. However, these functions may make it useful for the treatment and support of a number of other health conditions. DHA may help prevent heart disease and help lower harmful fat levels in the blood stream. Dietary DHA may reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing the level of blood triglycerides in humans. Low levels of DHA result in reduction of brain serotonin levels and have been associated with ADHD, Alzheimer's disease, and depression, among other diseases, and more and more evidence is suggesting that DHA supplementation may be effective in combating such diseases.

The main objectives in a study published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal (FASEB) was to determine the effects of low to high doses of DHA on both platelets and reduction-oxidation (redox) status in humans. Researchers recruited twelve healthy men aged 53-64 years and were assigned to take 200, 400, 800 and 1600 mg of DHA daily, 2 weeks for each varying dose. Before and after each dose of DHA, urine and blood samples were taken. The results were only the lowest dose of DHA (200 mg) induced an antioxidant effect increasing platelet vitamin E concentration and significantly lowering urinary isoprostane (accurate markers of oxidative stress) levels while the dose with 1600 mg of DHA increased isoprostane levels. The researchers said "It is concluded that low consumption of DHA could be an effective and non-pharmacological way to protect healthy men from platelet-related cardiovascular events."¹    

¹ Guillot N, Caillet E, Laville M, et al. Increasing intakes of the long-chain omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid: effects on platelet functions and redox status in healthy men. FASEB. Sep2009;23(9):2909-16.