Baked Fish Beats Fried for Omega-3 Boost

Nov. 19, 2009 (Orlando, Fla.) -- When it comes to reaping the heart-healthy
benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in fish, it often comes down to how you prepare
it, a study shows.
"The take-home message is that it's better to bake or boil the fish instead
of frying it," says study researcher Lixin Meng, MS, a doctoral candidate at
the University of Hawaii at Manoa. And adding a dash of low-sodium soy sauce
will enhance the heart-healthy benefits, she tells WebMD.
Eating salted, dried, or fried fish, on the other hand, is not beneficial,
Meng says. "But if it’s a fun occasion and you really want fried fish, do it
the Japanese way -- stir-fry, rather than deep-fry it."
If the idea of eating fish, no matter how it's prepared, turns you off, take
heart: Other researchers report they've genetically engineered soybean plants
to produce oil that boosts levels of certain omega-3 fatty acids in the
blood.
"This soybean oil could be an effective alternative to fish oil as a source
of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids," says researcher William Harris, PhD,
chief of cardiovascular health research at the University of South Dakota's
Sanford School of Medicine in Sioux Falls.
Both new studies were presented at the American Heart Association's (AHA)
Scientific Sessions 2009.
Omega-3s Cut Heart Risk
The AHA recommends eating at least two servings of fatty fish rich in
omega-3 fatty acids like DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic
acid) a week to protect against heart disease, says AHA spokeswoman Alice
Lichtenstein, DSc, a nutritionist at Tufts University.
Salmon, sardines, tuna, halibut, and mackerel are among the fish that are
richest in omega-3s.
"How you cook the fish, the type of fish, and the amount of fish you consume
[all impact its health-health benefits], but not enough attention has been
placed on the best way to ensure you get enough of the fatty acids in your
diet," says Lichtenstein, who was not involved with the work.
To help fill in the knowledge gap, Meng and colleagues examined the source,
type, amount, and frequency of dietary omega-3 consumption among men and women
in different ethnic groups.
The study involved 82,243 men and 103,884 women, ages 45 to 75, in Los
Angeles and Hawaii. The participants represented five major ethnic groups:
African Americans, whites, Hispanics, Japanese-Americans, and native Hawaiians.
None suffered from heart disease at the start of the study.
Over the next 10 years, 2,604 of the men and 1,912 of the women died from
heart disease.
When the men on the study were divided into five groups depending on their
omega-3 intake, those in the highest group consumed an average of about 3.3
grams of omega-3 fatty acids daily. Men in the lowest group consumed about 0.8
grams a day.
Men in the highest group of omega-3 intake had a 23% lower risk of dying due
to heart disease than those in the lowest group, the study showed.
Men of white, Japanese, and Hispanic descent appeared to get more benefits
from omega-3s than African-American or Hawaiian men, possibly because of how
they cook the fish or genetic predisposition, Meng says.
In women, the link between omega-3 fatty acid intake and heart disease
wasn't as strong, she says.
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