Alpha Linolenic Acid:
May Lower Risk Of
Sudden Cardiac Death
In Women
Alpha Linolenic Acid: Good Heart Medicine
Women who report eating foods rich in alpha linolenic acid demonstrate a lower risk of death from heart disease. In particular…
Diets high in this ALA to lower the risk of dangerous arrhythmias associated with sudden cardiac death.
Alpha linolenic acid (ALA) is an essential fatty acid meaning that it is essential for good health, yet is not manufactured by the body. It must, then, be consumed in the diet.
- ALA
- EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
- DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
… belong to a class of fatty acids known as omega 3 fatty acids.
EPA and DHA are primarily found in fish while alpha linolenic acid is found in plant sources such as flaxseed.
The body converts ALA to EPA and DHA which are more readily used by the body. All three fatty acids can be found in food sources as well as quality dietary supplements.
An association between alpha linolenic acid and arrhythmias was discovered in a nurse’s health study in which participants were asked a series of questions concerning their diets. The data suggest that certain types of fatty acids do help in protecting people from heart disease by preventing life threatening arrhythmias known as sudden cardiac death (SCD), a sudden loss of heart function.
What The Research Shows
In the 16-year follow-up program it was demonstrated that women having a higher intake of ALA had a significantly lower incidence of death from sudden cardiac death and coronary heart disease.
The study involved 76,763 women who completed a diet questionnaire in 1984. The results of the questionnaire were updated every four years. The women were separated into five categories depending on their alpha linolenic acid intake. The average intake varied between 0.7 grams per day to 1.5 grams per day.
Women in the highest intake group showed a 46% lower risk of dying from sudden cardiac death and a 21% lower risk of death from coronary heart disease than women in the lowest group.
Among all the women…
- 1,325 suffered non-fatal heart attacks
- 564 had coronary heart disease
- 169 suffered a sudden cardiac death
Clearly the study suggests that people who consume higher levels of alpha linolenic acid (as well as EPA and DHA) have a much lower risk of dying from coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death. Diets rich in flaxseeds or flaxseed oil and to a lesser degree…
- Canola oil
- Wheat germ
- Walnuts
… provide much needed ALA. Diets rich in fatty marine fish such as…
- Salmon
- Herring
- Mackerel
- Tuna
… provide EPA and DHA.
There is evidence to suggest that EPA and DHA are even more potent than ALA in preventing heart related incidences.
Heart Health Note:
Getting enough Omega-3 fatty acids is essential to proper heart health. This page discusses the benefits of ALA (the vegetable source of Omega-3) in the fight against heart disease.
ALA is converted in the body to EPA and DHA. You can get these latter two Omega-3 fatty acids by eating cold-water oil fish or by taking a high quality fish oil supplement. By increasing your intake of ALA or EPA and DHA you may significantly reduce you chances of developing heart disease.
For a good ALA supplement please click here.
Here is a high potency EPA + DHA supplement at a very good price.
|
Click here to read more on EPA and DHA
Taking dietary supplements derived from organically grown whole food sources and cold-water fish will also protect against America’s number one killer, heart disease.
Alpha linolenic acid and a Heart Healthy Diet
Dietary Supplements
Return from Alpha Linolenic Acid page to Sudden Cardiac Death page.
Heart Health Home Page
|
