Fish Oil Beats Defibrillators

Ivanhoe Newswire
Thursday, August 31, 2006; 12:00 AM

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study based on "cyber citizens" illustrates the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Researchers report feeding people more omega-3 fatty acids could do more to save people from sudden death than placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) -- devices that shock the heart back to normal -- in homes and public places.

The study, completed at the Heart Center at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., measured the impact of omega-3 fatty acids and AEDs on a computer simulated population of 100,000 people who mimicked the population of Olmsted County, Minn., in 2000. Not only did the nutrient typically found in fish oil beat out AEDs in the lifesaving business, it also bested another device designed to keep the heart beating in people with heart problems: implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).

Results indicate omega-3 fatty acids would have eight times the impact of AEDs and double the impact of implantable defibrillators on reducing sudden deaths.

The authors note sudden death due to cardiac disease affects half a million people every year, and for half of them, death is the first sign anything is wrong with their hearts.

While AEDs can save lives, many things have to fall into place in order for that to happen -- an AED has to be available, someone has to witness the heart attack, and then someone has to actually use the AED to shock the heart.

Eating more omega-3 fatty acids, either by consuming more fish or taking supplements, however, is something everyone can do on their own before disaster strikes.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published online Aug. 29, 2006