Intake of Fish and n3 Fatty Acids and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Among Japanese

Abstract

Background-Once-or twice-weekly consumption of fish (or a small amount of fish intake) reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death in Western countries. It is uncertain whether a high frequency or large amount of fish intake, as is the case in Japan, further reduces the risk. Methods and Results-To examine an association between high intake of fish and n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the risk of coronary heart disease, a total of 41 578 Japanese men and women aged 40 to 59 years who were free of prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and cancer and who completed a food frequency questionnaire were followed up from 1990 -1992 . Conclusions-Compared with a modest fish intake of once a week or Ϸ20 g/d, a higher intake was associated with substantially reduced risk of coronary heart disease, primarily nonfatal cardiac events, among middle-aged persons.

Fish consumption in relation to other foods in the diet

“…In some previous studies, those with the highest fish consumption had the lowest consumption of dairy products (16,27,32) , but in some studies, the direction of the association was the opposite (17,23) . In only one previous study, the consumption of sweets was reported by fish consumption groups, and the association seemed to be negative (16) .…”

“…In addition, energy intake and the total amount of food consumed are usually smaller among women and therefore fish may be able to partially replace other types of meats in their diet. With regard to poultry consumption in previous studies, those who had the highest fish consumption had the highest consumption of poultry (17,23,27,29,49) . In the present study, this association was seen only in the general population, although the positive linear association practically disappeared especially among the women after adjusting for other food groups.…”

Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: A case for omega-3 index as a new risk factor

“…An inverse relation between fish intake and risk for CHD has also been recently reported in Greek [14] and in Japanese cohorts [15]. The latter study examined the association between fish (and omega-3 FA) intake and various CHD endpoints in 41, 578 Japanese men and women age 50-70 over a 10 year follow-up period [15].…”

“…P for trend =0.02. Adapted from Iso et al [15]. The relationship between RBC EPA+DHA content and risk for primary cardiac arrest (right) or sudden cardiac death (left).…”

“…The latter study examined the association between fish (and omega-3 FA) intake and various CHD endpoints in 41, 578 Japanese men and women age 50-70 over a 10 year follow-up period [15]. The lowest quintile of intake was about 300 mg/d, which is about twice the median intake in the US [16].…”