Docs "in-the-know" prescribe fish oil

Numerous speakers at the Heart Failure Society of America 2009 Scientific Meeting commented on the shortage of new heart-failure agents to show a solid clinical benefit when given on top of the standard medications. A group of Northwestern University researchers decided to make their case for a substance already available, but much overlooked: fish oil.

"Omega-3 supplementation is very good, but we don't talk about it. The bulk of evidence suggests that this intervention is relatively simple, well accepted by the patient, with no side effects, and has an effect on cardiovascular mortality and heart failure."

"There are very few drugs that you can put on top of the standard medications and reduce cardiovascular death by ten percent."

Steve - the fact that it is overlooked is not surprising given the fact that Big Pharma cannot make any money off of fish oil. On the heels of this commentary, a British Journal of Nutrition study of over 57,000 Danish subjects over eight years may reduce unstable angina and chest pains by 27% in men who consume as little as .4 mg daily.