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Omega-3 Fatty Acid Deficiency takes 96,000 Lives Annually in the US

Posted on: Thursday, 25 June 2009, 06:27 CDT

DARTMOUTH, NS, June 25 /PRNewswire/ - (Ocean Nutrition Canada) - A new study from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found Omega-3 deficient diets cause up to 96,000 preventable deaths annually in the United States (US).

"The Preventable Causes of Death in the United States: Comparative Risk Assessment of Dietary, Lifestyle, and Metabolic Risk Factors" study published in the April 2009 issue of PLoS Medicine estimated the number of deaths resulting from 12 different modifiable and preventable causes to determine how many deaths were attributable to these factors.

Of the 12 dietary, lifestyle and metabolic risk factors examined in the study, Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency ranked as the sixth highest killer of Americans, responsible for a whopping 72,000 to 96,000 preventable deaths yearly. Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency even beat out high trans fat intake, which is responsible for an estimated 63,000 to 97,000 deaths annually.

"The numbers are shocking, especially given that these deaths are preventable with Omega-3 EPA/DHA supplementation," said Ocean Nutrition Canada's Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Lori Covert. "We know that daily doses of Omega-3 EPA/DHA can help with many conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, and we're committed to increasing consumer awareness about the drastic Omega-3 EPA/DHA deficiency in the Western diet. However, this new study validates that Omega-3 EPA/DHA is more than just part of a healthy diet...it's a matter of life and death."

Researchers retrieved data on exposures to the 12 selected risk factors from US national health surveys, and obtained information on deaths from different diseases for 2005 from the US National Health Center for Health Statistics. They also used previously published studies to estimate how much each risk factor increased the risk of death from each disease, and applied a mathematical model to estimate the number of deaths related to each risk factor.

Tobacco smoking ranked as the highest risk factor with 436,000 to 500,000 attributed preventable deaths, followed by high blood pressure (372,000 to 414,000), obesity (188,000 to 237,000), physical inactivity (164,000 to 222,000) and high salt intake (97,000-107,000).

Studies such as this are becoming increasingly important in the US and around the world as healthcare costs skyrocket. Policymakers use these studies to determine leading causes of mortality among populations, and then to develop and implement public health policies and legislation to help reduce exposure and to prevent death from certain risk factors.

About Omega-3:

Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid (EFA), consisting of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). Oily fish (such as sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and salmon) are the only known natural sources of Omega-3 EPA/DHA. ALA is found in plants, such as flax and chia. It is important to note that only EPA and DHA contribute to the many health benefits associated with Omega-3. While the body can convert ALA into EPA/DHA, it does so very inefficiently (less than one percent), making it impossible to derive Omega-3-related health benefits from plant-sourced ALA. Furthermore, although Omega-3 EPA/DHA is vital to overall good health, the human body is not able to produce it on its own, so supplementation is required, either by eating oily fish or foods fortified with Omega-3 EPA/DHA, or by taking fish oil supplements. Learn more about the health benefits of Omega-3 EPA/DHA at www.meg-3.com.

About Ocean Nutrition Canada Limited (ONC):

Ocean Nutrition Canada (ONC) is a privately held company, whose major shareholder is Clearwater Fine Foods Incorporated. Clearwater Fine Foods Incorporated is a diversified holding/investment company whose significant holdings include a controlling interest in Clearwater Seafood's Limited Partnership, the world's largest integrated shellfish harvester and processor.

ONC is a global leading supplier of Omega-3 EPA and DHA ingredients from fish oil...essential nutrients that have been scientifically linked to supporting heart health, brain health, and general wellness. ONC markets its MEG-3(R) ingredients into the Dietary Supplement and Healthy Food markets. To date MEG-3(R) ingredients have been included in over 40 billion servings of food and supplement products world wide. For more information on Ocean Nutrition Canada Limited visit www.ocean-nutrition.com, and for more information on the health benefits of Omega-3 EPA/DHA please visit www.meg-3.com.

SOURCE Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd.

Source: PR Newswire

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