Five or More Fish Servings a week!

[Guest guest]

** BOSTON, May 18 — Five or more servings of fish per week led to a

significantly increased risk for atrial fibrillation, according to a review

of more than 17,000 men.

" In this large prospective cohort of apparently healthy men, in both

unadjusted and maximally adjusted models, fish consumption was associated

with increased risk of adult atrial fibrillation, " said electrophysiologist

Aizer, M.D., M.Sc., of New York University, and colleagues.

Similarly, in both adjusted and unadjusted models, increased omega-3 fatty

acid consumption was also associated with increased risk of atrial

fibrillation, he reported at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting here.

Still, the protective benefits of fish consumption still far outweigh the

theoretical increased risk of atrial fibrillation, Dr. Aizer emphasized.

" The message of this study is not to stop eating fish, " he said. " Atrial

fibrillation is a complex condition that requires the interaction of a

number of factors to develop. Fish may have different effects on different

people. Lifestyle and dietary habits need to be tailored on an individual

basis to promote overall health. "

The results corroborate those of the Danish Diet Cancer and Health study of

nearly 48,000 middle-age people, which found that calculated omega-3 fatty

acid consumption was associated with an increased risk for developing atrial

fibrillation.

On the other hand, the current study contradicts the Cardiovascular Healthy

Study of 4,815 people ages 65 years and older, which found that people who

ate fish had a *reduced* risk for developing atrial fibrillation.

The researchers looked at men who were enrolled in the Physicians' Health

Study, 17,679 of whom reported that they did not take omega-e fatty acid

dietary supplements at baseline. The men provided detailed information about

their fish consumption at one year follow-up, with a four-item questionnaire

that asked about the frequency of fish consumption and they type consumed

(for example, canned tuna, dark meat fish such as mackerel or bluefish,

crustaceans, or other fish).

At a 15-year follow-up the physician participants were asked to report

whether they had been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, and the date of

diagnosis, or with any other new disease.

A total of 1,253 (7.1%) of the participants developed atrial fibrillation

during follow-up.

In an analysis adjusted for age and randomized treatment assignment (i.e.,

aspirin or placebo or beta-carotene or placebo), the authors found that fish

consumption was associated with an increased risk for developing atrial

fibrillation.

Men who ate fish once a month or less had no increased risk, whereas men who

ate fish two to four times a week had a relative risk of 1.41 (95%

confidence interval, 0.84-1.89), and men who had five or more servings of

aquatic fare each week had a relative risk of 1.55 (95% CI, 1.02-2.37,

*P*value for the trend =

0.008).

Additionally, when the investigators controlled for age, treatment

assignment, cardiovascular-disease risk factors and lifestyle, they found

that men in the highest two fish-consumption categories still had relative

risks of 1.32 (95% CI, 0.87-2.01) and 1.46 (95% CI, 0.94-2.28),

respectively.

In addition calculated (estimated) omega-3 fatty acid consumption was also

associated with an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation. The

adjusted odds ratio was 1.37; (95% CI, 0.90-2.10) for the highest versus the

lowest fifth of fish eating, *P* for trend = 0.017).

Dr. Aizer said that the divergent results of the various health studies with

regard to a fish-atrial fibrillation connection may have to do with

heterogeneity across the various cohorts. For example, in the Physicians'

Health Study and the Danish study the populations were younger, had less

hypertension, and were excluded from the study if they had cardiovascular

disease at baseline, in contrast to patients in the Cardiovascular Healthy

Study.

" So it is possible that potential pro-fibrillatory effects of omega-3 fatty

acids may have a more significant impact in young individuals without

cardiovascular disease, where vagal tone may have a more significant role,

while in contrast, the anti-fibrillatory effects of omega-3 fatty acids may

have a more significant impact on older individuals with cardiovascular

disease, " Dr. Aizer said.

He noted that in the Physicians' Health Study population, fish consumption

was associated with lower risk of ventricular fibrillation and sudden

cardiac death.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/posttest.cfm?testpage=3330&TBID=3330>

[Guest guest]

Great, what's next? I just got done eating a can of mackerel not

because I like it but for the supposed protective effect not only for

arrhythmia's but also for my heart disease. I stopped the Omega 3

pills over a year ago after taking them for years. Hell, now I'm

wondering if the Omega 3 could have started this whole mess back in

2000.

P

>

> ** BOSTON, May 18 — Five or more servings of fish per week led

to a

> significantly increased risk for atrial fibrillation, according to

a review

> of more than 17,000 men.

>

>

> http://www.medpagetoday.com/posttest.cfm?testpage=3330&TBID=3330>

>

>

[Guest guest]

HOLY MACKEREL... that's quite a pickle! Unless you're a seal, who wants to eat

that much fish anyway?

john JPindorski@...> wrote: Great, what's next? I just got done eating a

can of mackerel not

because I like it but for the supposed protective effect not only for

arrhythmia's but also for my heart disease. I stopped the Omega 3

pills over a year ago after taking them for years. Hell, now I'm

wondering if the Omega 3 could have started this whole mess back in

2000.

P

>

> ** BOSTON, May 18 — Five or more servings of fish per week led

to a

> significantly increased risk for atrial fibrillation, according to

a review

> of more than 17,000 men.

>

>

> http://www.medpagetoday.com/posttest.cfm?testpage=3330&TBID=3330>

>

>

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be

acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

[Guest guest]

Interesting article, I am still trying to incorporate 2 fish servings

per week. Fish is not my favorite dish either. Information I

collected over a number of years basically stated, 2 fish servings per

week was all that was needed for good health. (more was ok but not

necessarily better.) Taking oil capsules in any form was not as

beneficial as eating the whole thing, it seems other beneficial

components might be present that we are not yet aware of. Besides,

recommended sources for good fats to benefit the heart and the rest of

the body include nuts, olives, and avocados. I feel variety is the

best approach. After reading up on ground flaxseeds, I will try to

include that too. (Here also, did I come across some negative comment

regarding flaxseed oil).

>

> Great, what's next? I just got done eating a can of mackerel not

> because I like it but for the supposed protective effect not only for

> arrhythmia's but also for my heart disease.

[Guest guest]

(Here also, did I come across some negative comment

regarding flaxseed oil).

-----------

, what was the negative comment? I only remember one that had something to

do with men so I skipped over it ... being a chick and all.

Toni

CA

[Guest guest]

I was eating salmon a few times a week, thinking I was eating healthy,

but then my sister informed that Atlantic farmed salmon is full of

dioxin and all sorts of other nasties. I still eat it often, I love

the stuff, but I make sure I get the Chilean farmed fillets as they

are the cleanest.

Oh, she also told me that farmed salmon is actually grey, the pink

color is added, and sure enough, it says so right on the package. Go

figure!

Garrett

> >

> > ** BOSTON, May 18 — Five or more servings of fish per week led

> to a

> > significantly increased risk for atrial fibrillation, according to

> a review

> > of more than 17,000 men.

> >

>

> >

> > http://www.medpagetoday.com/posttest.cfm?testpage=3330&TBID=3330>

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

> List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

> For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

> send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

>

> Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or

should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

We buy the Alaskan wild salmon at Trader Joe's.

Jo Anne

Re: Five or More Fish Servings a week!

I was eating salmon a few times a week, thinking I was eating healthy,

but then my sister informed that Atlantic farmed salmon is full of

dioxin and all sorts of other nasties. I still eat it often, I love

the stuff, but I make sure I get the Chilean farmed fillets as they

are the cleanest.

Oh, she also told me that farmed salmon is actually grey, the pink

color is added, and sure enough, it says so right on the package. Go

figure!

Garrett

> >

> > ** BOSTON, May 18 - Five or more servings of fish per week led

> to a

> > significantly increased risk for atrial fibrillation, according to

> a review

> > of more than 17,000 men.

> >

>

> >

> > http://www.medpagetoday.com/posttest.cfm?testpage=3330&TBID=3330>

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

> List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

> For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

> send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

>

> Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or

should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Oh geez. Now what am I going to eat? Is there anything left to eat

besides celery that is not a trigger? Or is celery also a trigger?

And anything that is not a trigger interferes with coumadin.

>

> ** BOSTON, May 18 — Five or more servings of fish per week led to a

> significantly increased risk for atrial fibrillation, according to a

review

> of more than 17,000 men.

>

> " In this large prospective cohort of apparently healthy men, in both

> unadjusted and maximally adjusted models, fish consumption was

associated

> with increased risk of adult atrial fibrillation, " said

electrophysiologist

> Aizer, M.D., M.Sc., of New York University, and colleagues.

>

> Similarly, in both adjusted and unadjusted models, increased omega-3

fatty

> acid consumption was also associated with increased risk of atrial

> fibrillation, he reported at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting here.

>

> Still, the protective benefits of fish consumption still far

outweigh the

> theoretical increased risk of atrial fibrillation, Dr. Aizer emphasized.

>

> " The message of this study is not to stop eating fish, " he said. " Atrial

> fibrillation is a complex condition that requires the interaction of a

> number of factors to develop. Fish may have different effects on

different

> people. Lifestyle and dietary habits need to be tailored on an

individual

> basis to promote overall health. "

>

> The results corroborate those of the Danish Diet Cancer and Health

study of

> nearly 48,000 middle-age people, which found that calculated omega-3

fatty

> acid consumption was associated with an increased risk for

developing atrial

> fibrillation.

>

> On the other hand, the current study contradicts the Cardiovascular

Healthy

> Study of 4,815 people ages 65 years and older, which found that

people who

> ate fish had a *reduced* risk for developing atrial fibrillation.

>

> The researchers looked at men who were enrolled in the Physicians'

Health

> Study, 17,679 of whom reported that they did not take omega-e fatty acid

> dietary supplements at baseline. The men provided detailed

information about

> their fish consumption at one year follow-up, with a four-item

questionnaire

> that asked about the frequency of fish consumption and they type

consumed

> (for example, canned tuna, dark meat fish such as mackerel or bluefish,

> crustaceans, or other fish).

>

> At a 15-year follow-up the physician participants were asked to report

> whether they had been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, and the

date of

> diagnosis, or with any other new disease.

>

> A total of 1,253 (7.1%) of the participants developed atrial

fibrillation

> during follow-up.

>

> In an analysis adjusted for age and randomized treatment assignment

(i.e.,

> aspirin or placebo or beta-carotene or placebo), the authors found

that fish

> consumption was associated with an increased risk for developing atrial

> fibrillation.

>

> Men who ate fish once a month or less had no increased risk, whereas

men who

> ate fish two to four times a week had a relative risk of 1.41 (95%

> confidence interval, 0.84-1.89), and men who had five or more

servings of

> aquatic fare each week had a relative risk of 1.55 (95% CI, 1.02-2.37,

> *P*value for the trend =

> 0.008).

>

> Additionally, when the investigators controlled for age, treatment

> assignment, cardiovascular-disease risk factors and lifestyle, they

found

> that men in the highest two fish-consumption categories still had

relative

> risks of 1.32 (95% CI, 0.87-2.01) and 1.46 (95% CI, 0.94-2.28),

> respectively.

>

> In addition calculated (estimated) omega-3 fatty acid consumption

was also

> associated with an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation. The

> adjusted odds ratio was 1.37; (95% CI, 0.90-2.10) for the highest

versus the

> lowest fifth of fish eating, *P* for trend = 0.017).

>

> Dr. Aizer said that the divergent results of the various health

studies with

> regard to a fish-atrial fibrillation connection may have to do with

> heterogeneity across the various cohorts. For example, in the

Physicians'

> Health Study and the Danish study the populations were younger, had less

> hypertension, and were excluded from the study if they had

cardiovascular

> disease at baseline, in contrast to patients in the Cardiovascular

Healthy

> Study.

>

> " So it is possible that potential pro-fibrillatory effects of

omega-3 fatty

> acids may have a more significant impact in young individuals without

> cardiovascular disease, where vagal tone may have a more significant

role,

> while in contrast, the anti-fibrillatory effects of omega-3 fatty

acids may

> have a more significant impact on older individuals with cardiovascular

> disease, " Dr. Aizer said.

>

> He noted that in the Physicians' Health Study population, fish

consumption

> was associated with lower risk of ventricular fibrillation and sudden

> cardiac death.

>

> http://www.medpagetoday.com/posttest.cfm?testpage=3330&TBID=3330>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

, I've heard that a new study is coming out soon which proves that when

taken in combination coffee, alcohol, junk food, and cigarettes are good for us,

john JPindorski@...> wrote: Great, what's next? I just got done eating a

can of mackerel not

because I like it but for the supposed protective effect not only for

arrhythmia's but also for my heart disease. I stopped the Omega 3

pills over a year ago after taking them for years. Hell, now I'm

wondering if the Omega 3 could have started this whole mess back in

2000.

P

>

> ** BOSTON, May 18 — Five or more servings of fish per week led

to a

> significantly increased risk for atrial fibrillation, according to

a review

> of more than 17,000 men.

>

>

> http://www.medpagetoday.com/posttest.cfm?testpage=3330&TBID=3330>

>

>

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be

acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/20/06 6:21:31 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

mikesellon@... writes:

> I think she is referring to a link between flaxseed oil and

> prostate cancer. Men probably better talk to their doctors before

> starting a regime involving flaxseed oil. See this link, and scroll

> down to " Side Effects and Warnings " .

Mike ... thanks. That's the one I was thinking of too ... had something to

do with the testosterone connection. Thanks for the detail cuz I skimmed that

part since it didn't have to do with women.

Toni

CA

[Guest guest]

I think she is referring to a link between flaxseed oil and

prostate cancer. Men probably better talk to their doctors before

starting a regime involving flaxseed oil. See this link, and scroll

down to " Side Effects and Warnings " .

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/flaxseed/NS_patient-flaxseed

Mike/Minnesota

>

> (Here also, did I come across some negative comment

> regarding flaxseed oil).

>

> -----------

> , what was the negative comment? I only remember one that had

something to do with men so I skipped over it ... being a chick and all.

>

> Toni

> CA