| Aaron Wilmont | | | | percent. Palmitic acid is the main saturated fatty acid in |
| Researchers working at the Veterans Affairs Medical | | | | most diets. This acid is known to cause an increase in |
| Center state that DPA and DHA, primary components | | | | both total cholesterol and low-density cholesterol levels; |
| of fish oil, provide substantial protection against | | | | the researchers, however, found that the detrimental |
| coronary heart disease. This study involved more tha | | | | effect of a high intake of palmitic acid persisted even |
| six thousand middle-aged men who had samples of | | | | after allowing for its cholesterol- increasing effect. The |
| their blood taken between 1973 and 1976. During the | | | | researchers also determined that men with a higher |
| next seven years, 94 of these men had a heart | | | | blood level of the Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, |
| attack or died suddenly due to heart disease. The 94 | | | | docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid had |
| men were matched with 94 healthy men and the fatty | | | | an almost 50 percent lower risk of developing heart |
| acid profile of their blood samples compared. The | | | | disease than did men with lower levels. Furthermore, |
| researchers discovered that the 94 men with heart | | | | the researchers found that men with CHD tended to |
| disease tended to have a higher serum level of the | | | | have a higher serum level of Omega-6 fatty acids |
| saturated fatty acid palmitic acid and stated that a high | | | | derived from linoleic acid. Fish oil seems to restore the |
| level of this acid increases the risk of CHD by 68 | | | | balance. |