15
EPA levels were due to plant ALA rather disease and reduce the risk of cholesterol In 2008, a study in the journal Circulation (the
than fish. becoming ‘oxidised’ – the body’s journal of the American Heart Association)
equivalent of rust. When oxidised, ‘bad’ reported that when ALA intake was just 0.65
After almost four years, patients following cholesterol can harm the walls of arteries, per cent of daily energy intake (compared to
the Mediterranean-style diet had a increasing the risk of heart disease. 0.24 per cent), non-fatal heart attacks reduced
50-70 per cent lower risk of recurrent by a staggering 57 per cent. In weight, this
heart disease compared to those on the The problem is – this research does amounts to just 1.79 grams per day – two
‘prudent’ Western diet. not appear to have reached health teaspoons of soya bean or rapeseed oil, 1-2ml
professionals! Around 300,000 people in (1tsp = 5ml) of flaxseed oil, or 6-10 walnuts a
An important difference between this and Britain have a heart attack every year and day would do the trick.
previous studies with fish oils was that many of those who survive receive little or
the number of non-fatal heart attacks was no dietary advice. Many scientists agree Interestingly, neither fish nor EPA and
reduced. Secondly, the diet’s protective effect that survivors should be advised to follow a DHA intake altered the heart
was associated with the parent omega-3 ALA diet similar to that used in the LYON study. attack-lowering effect
rather than the converted EPA as in previous of ALA, indicating
studies. In fact there was no link between the Plant omega-3s and heart disease that it is the parent
converted EPA and DHA omega-3s and a There is a wealth of science showing that ALA rather than the
reduction in heart attacks. plant-based omega-3s protect against converted EPA or
heart disease. The Health Professionals’ DHA that lowers
The LYON study showed that plant ALA is Study found that a one per cent increase the risk.
extremely effective in reducing the risks of in ALA intake lowered the risk of heart
secondary heart disease, that it was superior attack by 59 per cent. The Nurses’ Health
to fish-derived EPA and DHA in reducing Study found that those who ate the most
the risk of a second heart attack and that it ALA had a 45 per cent lower risk of fatal
protects the heart in the long-term. heart disease.
The bonus is that the Mediterranean diet In 2003, a WHO/UN FAO report supported
is rich in disease-busting antioxidants the fact that ALA protected against heart
that can help reduce the build up of fatty disease and listed flaxseed, rapeseed and
deposits in the arteries that lead to heart soya bean oils as being beneficial.
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