Japan’s Heart-Healthy Diet: Fish is Key

By Saher Selod

A recent study provides some evidence that Japanese men who smoke are less likely than white and Japanese American men to have heart disease and arthrosclerosis (the plaque that clogs arteries which can lead to heart attacks and strokes). Bento Box

For the purposes of this research, a cross-sectional study was conducted comparing 281 Japanese men to 281 Japanese American and 306 white American men. The results found that Japanese men had double the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood which is known to prevent the buildup of plaque in arteries. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna, which suggests that the findings could be linked to the Japanese diet which typically includes about 3 oz. of fish a day.

The study showed that as the level of omega-3 fatty acid increased, the thickness of the artery decreased. Japanese men had 45% higher levels of omega-3 fatty acid in their blood compared to Japanese American men and 80% higher levels than white American men. The level of arthrosclerosis was less in Japanese men compared to both Japanese-American men and white American men, although levels of plaque buildup in the arteries of the latter two groups were similar by contrast.

While the evidence points to a correlation between high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and decreased levels of plaque buildup in arteries due to increased fish consumption, more research in this area is needed. Introducing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids has not had positive results for patients who had previously suffered from heart attacks, and it has not been proven to counter the effects of diets high in saturated fat.

Nonetheless, the study provides food for thought on how increased fish consumption, along with other dietary changes, can reduce levels of heart disease in men. Furthermore, these findings suggest that diets high in omega-3 fatty acids should be viewed as a lifestyle choice that is more successful as a preventative measure as opposed to a treatment for heart disease and arthrosclerosis.

Source: Akira Sekikawa, J. David Curb, Hirotsugu Ueshima, Aiman El-Saed, Takashi Kadowaki, Robert D. Abbott, Rhobert W. Evans, Beatriz L. Rodriguez, Tomonori Okamura, Kim Sutton-Tyrrell, Yasuyuki Nakamura, Kamal Masaki, Daniel Edmundowicz, Atsunori Kashiwagi, Bradley J. Willcox, Tomoko Takamiya, Ken-ichi Mitsunami, Todd B. Seto, Kiyoshi Murata, Roger L. White, Lewis H. Kuller. 2008.Marine-Derived n-3 Fatty Acids and Atherosclerosis in Japanese, Japanese-American, and White Men: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 52: 417-424

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