Omega 3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: Plant sources may be as effective as oily fish

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7436.406-c

BMJ 2004;328:406 (14 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7436.406-c

Letter

Omega 3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease

Plant sources may be as effective as oily fish

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

EDITOR—In their review of omega 3 fatty acids and cardiovasculardisease Din et al ignored the plant derived omega 3 fatty acidsbeyond the initial definitions.¹

In figure 3 they say that the omega 3 fatty acids from fishoils are metabolites of ${alpha}$ linolenic acid (the plant derived sourceof omega 3 fatty acids). However, they did not say whether ${alpha}$ linolenic acid is as effective as oily fish in the beneficialeffects described. Is this because no trials exist or trialsshow less effect?

Din et al comment on concerns about depleting fish stocks andenvironmental contamination of certain fish. Would suggestinga trial of ${alpha}$ linolenic acid supplements or a diet rich in theplant sources of this oil be an option for future research aswell as their proposed trial of fish oil supplements?

Olga N Garrard, consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry

Canada House, Gillingham ME7 4JL olga.garrard@icc.wkentmht.nhs.uk

Competing interests: None declared.

Din JN, Newby DE, Flapan AD. Omega 3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease—fishing for a natural treatment. BMJ 2003;328: 30-5. (3 January.)

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Omega 3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease—fishing for a natural treatment: Jehangir N Din, David E Newby, and Andrew D Flapan
BMJ 2004 328: 30-35. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]