# New Studies: Fish Oil Reduces Heart Attacks

**By Paula Gallagher** · 2018-11-26

![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0319/0960/9603/files/fish-oil-300x200.jpg)Two studies published in the _New England Journal of Medicine_ have found that healthy people who eat fish with omega-3s or take fish oil supplements suffer fewer heart attacks than people who do not have omega-3s in their diet. One study called The Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial (VITAL) found that healthy people who took a fish oil supplement suffered fewer heart attacks, particularly if they were African American or did not regularly eat fish. The fish oil supplements reduced risk of heart attack by 28% over a 5-year follow-up period. The study showed overwhelming benefit of fish oil supplements for African American participants, who had a 77% reduction in their risk of heart attack. Another study, the Reduction of Cardiovascular Events with Icosapent Ethyl Intervention Trial (REDUCE-IT), found that a purified form of omega-3 fatty acid (EPA) reduced the risk of death by heart disease, heart attack or stroke in people with hardened arteries or other heart risk factors. The supplement, icosapent ethyl, a prescription medication, produced a 20% reduction in the risk of heart-related death, a 31% reduction in heart attacks and a 28% reduction in strokes, compared to those given a placebo. Both studies show that the omega-3 fatty acids have a beneficial effect on heart health. Omega-3s help lower triglyceride levels, reduce inflammation, decrease blood clotting and help stabilize heart rhythm. If you would like more information on omega-3 supplements, [please contact us](https://www.myvillagegreen.com/) for more information. _Photo from [here](https://www.flickr.com/photos/oter/6108414269/in/photolist-aiMdKp-grGSMs-2bPw1CP-pUzop6-PFxHVE-hp1ZcL-fun7AT-jxBKXf-cRwiU3-qVuFBf-aiMe68-q7Yafe-7pzmTR-HsjvT-4wPhqG-6ZW5mi-akL43x-4wPhb1-cKmhdS-bzQVt-4wK8Sc-9B1Qq7-8HWjxh-VutpuS-85Bpga-4V4nXN-mQYQtC-27Rk4wL-VhzN6g-iHU8z7-bCzToT-8nuyLy-f6g1ZF-KJn5Rn-cEKXYJ-aiQ3hQ-4PbBwz-8pmwBc-65zf11-4wK6CR-44pAS-4wK6sD-7m2Skz-6LYZRQ-nUvbDi-jeHGW-4w6LLH-6zvXdV-f6g21M-8hwoas), with thanks._

**Tags:** cardivascular health, Category_Health Concerns, fish oil, heart health, omega 3

---

> Source: [Village Green Apothecary](https://myvillagegreen.com/blogs/post/new-studies-fish-oil-reduces-heart-attacks)