Macro partitioning
Consuming 0.25-0.5% of energy as EPA and DHA (approx. 500-1000 mg/day) reduces cardiovascular disease risk, primarily by lowering triglycerides and acting as antiarrhythmic agents.
Aim for 500-1000 mg of combined EPA and DHA daily, preferably from fatty fish or a high-quality supplement. This dose is sufficient to lower triglycerides and reduce the risk of heart attacks and sudden cardiac death. Do not rely solely on plant sources like flaxseed, as they are less effective for these specific outcomes.
EPA and DHA intake of 0.2%-0.5% en (400-1000 mg/d) reduced the risk of CHD... EPA and DHA are the only dietary fatty acids consistently shown to lower plasma TG
Why this rating
Supported by multiple randomized clinical trials (GISSI-Prevention, Diet and Reinfarction Trial) and meta-analyses.
Source
DIETARY n-6 AND n-3 FATTY ACID BALANCE AND CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
Vasuki Wijendran et al. · Annual Review of Nutrition · 2004
DOI 10.1146/annurev.nutr.24.012003.132106
More from this paper
- The absolute mass of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids consumed is more important for cardiovascular health than the n-6/n-3 ratio.Strong
- Maintaining linoleic acid (LA) intake at 5-8% of energy is critical for cardiovascular health because it sets a threshold that mitigates the cholesterol-raising effects of saturated fats and cholesterol.Good
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