Marine oils, Cholesterol and Your Healthy Heart.

Magazines and your TV are loaded with pharmaceutical advertisements warning you to manage your cholesterol levels. You might wonder, do marine oils play a role in reducing cholesterol levels? Many people think that the marine oils lower cholesterol levels, and that is not correct. The truth is marine oils sometimes slightly increase the levels of total cholesterol and LDL. Does that mean that marine oils are bad for you, or bad for your heart? Absolutely not.

And there are many reasons why. Marine oils are so well known for their support of cardiovascular health that doctors suggest them for anyone with known heart disease, and they are especially recommended for everyone with elevated triglycerides, a type of circulating blood fats. Why are the doctors so certain marine oils should be used for those with heart risks? Because of strong endorsements for marine oils by the prestigious American Heart Association. So why does this group suggest 1000 to 4000 mg of the marine omega 3s EPA and DHA daily to people at risk for heart attack and stroke? Because they know something very important. Marine oils reduce the risk of heart attack and heart disease. And they know that cholesterol is a complex issue. When it comes to cholesterol, the total number is not the whole story.

Yes, marine oils may cause a slight increase in LDL is some ( not all) folks, but they also change the size of the LDL particle so that it is less dangerous to the blood vessels and less likely to cause a cardiovascular event. And when it comes blood vessel harm from cholesterol articles… size matters. The smaller and denser the LDL molecule, the more dangerous it is to your health. You'd prefer your LDL to be large and more buoyant. LDL particle size is now something that can be routinely measured as part of your regular check-up. This is important because if you have small, dense LDL you have four times the risk of developing heart disease. Next time you go for a physical ask for the new generation of cholesterol testing. The Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) and the Berkley Heart Lab Advanced Testing methods provide a more complete picture of cardiovascular system health than the routine cholesterol test. Most insurance carriers cover these tests.

The VAP Test directly measures LDL, as well as LDL particle size. If your test reveals higher than ideal levels of small dense LDL you can reach for your marine oils. Taking marine oils actually increases cholesterol particle size thereby reducing your risk.

So the potential for harm from a slight elevation of LDL is strongly overcome by the benefit of increasing LDL particle size and by the next two points. Increased levels of HDL and normalizing triglycerides.

Yes, taking marine oils increases your levels of HDL, the good cholesterol. High HDL brings strong benefits for heart health, drastically reducing your risk of heart disease.

HDL exists in a natural balance with triglycerides, which are stored fats used as an energy source for metabolism. As HDL levels increase, such as when a person takes marine oils, triglyceride levels generally drop. Triglyceride levels rise easily, especially after meals. Increased levels are almost always a sign of excessive carbohydrate and sugar intake.

Elevated triglycerides are yet another independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. High triglycerides raise the risk of heart attack or stroke fats even if a person's cholesterol levels are normal.

Lifestyle factors that significantly aggravate elevated triglycerides and low HDL levels are obesity, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle. Thus, diet and weight control, exercise and smoking cessation are the foundation to treat elevated triglyceride and low HDL levels.
Fortunately, marine oils are quite effective for reducing triglyceride levels. The American Heart Association recommends that patients with elevated triglycerides take a daily dose of 2,000 to 4,000 mg of combined EPA and DHA from cold water fish.

What about contaminants? Just be sure to read your fish oil label carefully. There are excellent marine oil supplements naturally loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids, powerful nutrients that prevent heart disease, that are also certified free of harmful levels of contaminants. Always look for a purity assurance statement on your marine oil label.

The label should say that the product has been independently tested and has been found to be free of detrimental levels of mercury, cadmium, lead, PCB's and other contaminants.

Improving the particle size of LDL and improving the HDL/triglyceride balance are still not the only heart smart benefits of marine oils.

Research has shown that the Omega-3 fatty acids in marine oil supplements can reduce the risk of arrhythmias, which are lethal heart rhythms that can cause sudden death.

The Omega 3's EPA and DHA also can slow atherosclerosis, the process by which of harmful plaque develops on artery walls. This process occurs over many years, even several decades. If the plaque growth is slowed and the blood vessels walls are kept healthy, a heart attack is unlikely. However, rapidly growing plaques can break apart and this can be very dangerous. The immune system responds with inflammation, which causes blood clots to form. These blood clots block the circulation in the artery and this may cause a heart attack or a stroke.

The Omega 3's in marine oils also may help to keep blood pressure levels normal. Many people have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney failure.

Jolie Root, LPN LNC