>The first study to compare two powerful cholesterol-lowering drugs
head-to-head in treating coronary artery disease finds that one appears to
be superior.
What they don't tell you is that studies have shown that ordinary fish
oil which contains omega 3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA, is at
least as effective in lowering cholesterol and improving the ratio of
good to bad. Probably more effective and no adverse side effects... if
you don't count an occasional fishy burp :>) I get a 3 month supply from
Costco for less than $10. Compare that to the hundreds if not thousands
of $$ per year for the drugs. Works for me and I have the blood tests to
back it up. I suspect there are others in this group who may benefit.
mike
Actually, that's not quite accurate. I was hired at my current job to
develop a genetic test for familial hypercholesterolemia, and have
attended several professional atherosclerosis socities' conferences.
It turns out that eating fish oils and omega threes is beneficial
because it raises your High Density Lipoprotien (HDL. one of the
good, or protective cholesterols), but it will also raise your LDL
(low density lipoprotein-the "bad" cholesterol) as well. As far as I
know it does not lower total cholesterol. As it turns out, there is
no correlation with total cholesterol and risk of myocardial
infarction (heart attack). The most meaningful correlations are with
HDL and triglycerides. In essence, having low LDL and triglycerides
and high HDL is good, the reverse is a strong risk factor. Turns out
though, that if you eat fish, especially salmon, your HDL goes up,
but your LDL does not. So there is something in fish that is
beneficial that is not in fish or omega three oils alone.
-Stephen Scharf
--
2001 CBR600F4i - Fantastic!
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