Fish and Heart Disease

Abstract

Epidemiologic and laboratory investigations suggest that eating fish confers protection against coronary heart disease.^1,2 However, in this issue of the Jour-nal, Ascherio et al.³ report no association between fish intake and coronary heart disease in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Where does the evidence stand, and how do the new data fit in?Fish and other seafoods, and oils pressed from them, contain a special class of polyunsaturated fatty acids called omega-3 or n-3 (“n minus three”) fatty acids. Tiny amounts of these are essential for the development of the nervous system. The effect of n-3 fatty acids on . . .