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Monday, May 22, 2006
Dumaguing: Omacor is healthy fish oils in a capsule
By Dr. Vic Dumaguing
To Your Health
ASK any middle-aged adult, male or female, on what disease entity or disease complications they dread most and chances are, in the short list, would be heart attack (myocardial infraction) and stroke (CVA or cerebrovascular accident).
In the past few years, in part to tri-media efforts to disseminate health issues to the public, even the ordinary man in the street knows that these two entities are associated with elevations of fats, particularly cholesterol in the blood. And with the incidence of heart attack and stroke rising even in poor, developing countries, it is understandable that recent studies confirming that reduction of elevated blood cholesterol levels can reduce the risk of heart disease have rekindled interest in the effects of diet on serum cholesterol levels and other lipids. It is also a fact that one of the most important dietary factors regulating blood fats is the ratio of the so-called LC-Pufas (long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids) to saturated fatty acids in the diet.
There are two families of Pufas, the omega-6 or linoleic family and the omega-3 or linolenic family. The omega 6 Pufas, whose chief dietary source is linoleic acid, are derived mostly from plant fats and vegetable oils. They decrease serum cholesterol levels only with modest lowering of triglyceride levels. The omega-3 Pufas, whose major sources are EPA or eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA or docosahexaenoic acid are derived from certain deep ocean fish and fish oils, cause decrease in blood cholesterol and a more significant reduction in triglyceride levels.
The omega-3 Pufas have yet another unique physiological effect that may decrease the risk of heart disease - they decrease platelet aggregation or the clumping together of platelets that would lead to formation of blood clot big enough to cause obstruction or blockade of blood flow. EPA and DHA and other omega-3 Pufas may be converted to a substance called TXA3 or thromboxane A3, which has a weal platelet-clumping effects and Prostaglandin I3 or PGI3, which has very strong and marked anti-platelet clumping effects. On the other hand, arachidonic acid, another member of the omega-6 Pufas, is known to be a precursor of source of TXA2 or thromboxane 2, which is a potent pro-aggregating agent, and prostaglandin I2 or PGI2, which is a weak anti-aggregating agent. The omega-3 Pufas have been shown to inhibit the conversion of arachidonic acid to the harmful TXA2.
The sterling, impressive health benefits of EPA and DHA were further emphasized by the lecture of Dr. Brenda Espinosa last Wednesday at the Golden Pine Hotel. The amiable and gracious lady physician is a compleat cardiologist, being a Fellow of both the Philippine College of Physicians and the Philippine College of Cardiology. Dr. Espinosa, who is also the current president of the Philippine Heart Association - Northern Luzon chapter, patiently started her talk with a lecture down the jaded corridors of biochemistry and physiology, which indeed, turned out to be very useful in establishing a logical connection between intake of EPA and DHA and its health benefits. Then, the speaker, who has a charming way of interacting with her listeners, shared with them the results of GISSI-Prevenzione, which is one of the largest trials for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
The study is a multi-center effort with 11,324 patients who have had a heart attack in the last three months before entry into study, carried out in 172 medical centers and research institutions. The patients were followed up for a mean period of more than three years. The objective was to evaluate the additional efficacy of Omacor 1 gram per day in the reduction of mortality (death) in after-heart attack patients with secondary prevention treatment regimen, which included anti-coagulants, ACE-inhibitors, beta-blockers, statins.)
Among the long list of very encouraging results of the study, the more salient figures show a 45 percent reduction in sudden death, a 30 percent reduction in cardiovascular death, a 15 percent reduction in non-fatal stroke. Physicians are well aware that after a heart attack, the heart is extremely hyper-excitable and very sensitive, thus deadly arrhythmias or irregularities in heartbeat may ensue. Omacor stabilizes the cell membrane of the heart muscle thus significantly reducing the occurrence of these deadly arrhythmias. Omacor, aside from reducing platelet clumping, also decrease inflammation of blood vessel wall and has the added bonus of inducing vasodilatation or opening of blood vessels.
Omacor is the only drug that provides a dosing of 840mg per day of EPA and DHA in one capsule. Omacor, having undergone four stringent purification processes, is the only purified omega-3 acid ethyl esters. The majority of adverse effects were of the gastrointestinal type like nausea. Pregnant and lactating mothers should not take the drug.
The European Society of Cardiology recommends (class 1, level evidence B) intake of 1 gram EPA-DHA in the secondary prevention of faster-heart attack patients. The American Heart Association went further by stating that patients with documented coronary heart disease should take one gram of EPA-DHA per day. And to top it all, Omacor is the only EPA-DHA formulation approved and classified by FDAs of different nations as a drug with therapeutic value.
Of course, eating natural is still the best. Eat your mackerel, salmon and tuna. However, with all those fast foods laden with fats, salt and sugar, on top of a sedentary, exercise-less lifestyle, the health risks rises. Then, Omacor comes to the fore!
(May 22, 2006 issue)
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