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Artery calcification is a severe complication of atherosclerosis characterized by the deposit of calcium within the walls of your arteries, according to a 1996 article published in “Circulation.” Hard calcium deposits infiltrate the lining of your arteries, which makes them less flexible. Less-flexible arteries are prone to rupturing and also tend to cause an increase in blood pressure. Fish oil supplements have shown the ability to inhibit artery calcification.
Fish Oil and Cardiovascular Disease
Fish oil contains fatty acids, which are essential nutrients your body needs to function. Specifically, fish oil provides both eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. Both of these fatty acids reduce your risk of suffering from fatal coronary artery disease and other similar arterial disorders, according to a March 2010 article in “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.” Talk to your doctor about whether fish oil supplements are right for you.
Artery Calcification
Calcification is a process involving the deposit of abnormal amounts of calcium in tissue that normally does not need calcium. Often calcification occurs in organs that have been damaged. When your arteries become damaged by atherosclerotic plaques, which are made up of cholesterol and fibrous tissue, they become susceptible to calcification. Calcium phosphate, or hydroxyapatite, is the compound of calcium most commonly seen in artery calcification, according to the article in “Circulation.” Calcification may occur as early as the second decade of life.
Omega-3 Acids and Artery Calcification
The omega-3 fatty acids, or N-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil directly inhibit the formation of arterial calcification, according to a March 2006 article in “Circulation Research.” These inhibitory effects develop when the fatty acids interact with biochemical pathways within arteries. The study used cow tissues within a laboratory, so more studies are required to determine whether these fish oil benefits occur in humans.
Other Components of Fish Oil
Aside from omega-3 fatty, fish oil contains other nutrients that have a protective effect against arterial calcification. Vitamin D and selenium, both often found in fish oil supplements, are associated with prevention of arterial disease, according to an article published in the March 2010 issue of “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.” The protective effect is weak but apparent, and is most evident in women. Further studies on larger populations are needed to understand how each component inhibits calcification in your arteries.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/532780-does-fish-oil-help-artery-calcification/
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