Mercury in fish seems to raise blood pressure in spite of nutrients

The negative impact of high amounts of methylmercury in seafood on blood pressure may outweigh the protective effects of fish nutrients, researchers report in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers found that even when blood pressure was within the normal range and numerous other factors, including omega-3 fatty acids (essential fats that your body needs to function properly but does not make) and selenium (a dietary essential mineral) were carefully controlled for, the environmental mercury was associated with higher blood pressure and pulse pressure among Nunavik Inuit adults in a recent study - AHA

Recommended daily dose for Omega-3 may be on the way

A new analysis could lead to heated debate among heart doctors over whether omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids deserves its own recommended daily intake levels. Fish oil - a centuries-old pharmacy shelf fixture - has recently been the subject of much research to determine its heart-protecting properties. Now, some cardiologists say it is time for omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to join others nutrients for which a daily recommended intake has been established. Dr. Carl Lavie, medical director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention at the Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute in New Orleans, is one such cardiologist. He says that healthy people should consume at least 500 mg per day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in order to meet their daily needs for the nutrient. Lavie and his colleagues made the recommendations in a paper released Monday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology

The VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL)

The VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) is a research study in 20,000 U.S. men and women investigating whether taking daily dietary supplements of vitamin D (about 2000 IU) or fish oil (about 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids) reduces the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and stroke in people who do not have a prior history of these illnesses. Recruitment for the study will begin in January 2010.

Fish oil may be good for you but it can be pricey (USA)

"Almost 800,000 people are expected to have their first heart attack this year. Along with traditional medicine such as statins, omega-3 oils found in fish have been shown to help prevent heart disease. Fish oil is sold as a dietary supplement, but now it comes as a prescription, too. Lovaza is one of the first supplements to be offered as a prescription. Lovaza has a concentrated amount of fish oil, so if you need to take a high dose to lower your triglycerides, you can do so by taking fewer pills, which is more convenient. Consumer Reports says Lovaza is expensive, costing roughly $160 a month. And even people with existing heart disease don't usually need the high dose it offers. The American Heart Association recommends one gram of omega-3s per day for people with existing heart disease. You can easily get that much from one or two capsules of a fish oil supplement"

Flaxseed Oil Pills vs. Fish Oil Pills

"Flaxseed oil pills, taken at the right dose, may equal fish oil pills in terms of their net effect from certain heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. That's according to a new study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" - WebMD