Patients with hypertriglyceridemia [high triglycerides] benefit from treatment with 3 to
4 g/d of DHA and EPA, a dosage that lowers triglyceride levels by 20% to 50%.
- The Mayo Clinic

Body out of balance

Triglycerides play an important role in your body as a source of energy and transporter of dietary fat. High triglycerides are a build-up of fats in your blood promoted by low density lipoproteins (LDL) without adequate removal of fats and cholesterol by high density lipoproteins (HDL).

High triglycerides can lead to atherosclerosis, a build up of plaque in your arteries commonly referred to as "hardening" or "furring" of the arteries. Atherosclerosis greatly increases your chances of heart disease and stroke.

Increase your HDL (good fat)

To lower your triglycerides you need to increase the ratio of HDL to LDL in your blood stream. Medical experts think that HDL carries cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. Some experts believe that that HDL removes excess cholesterol from arterial plaque, thus slowing its buildup.

You can increase your levels of HDL by reducing the amount of fat and carbohydrates in your diet, getting more exercise and consuming more Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids promote the production of HDL in your body.

Consume more Omega-3 fatty acids

Our primitive diet found a natural balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6 is found primarily in plants like corn, soy, canola, safflower and sunflower oil. Omega-3 is found in some plants like flaxseed and walnuts but primarily in fish and grass fed animals. Our primitive diet had a ratio of about 1:2 omega-3 to omega-6. Our modern Western diet with an emphasis on corn and wheat based processed foods has thrown us out of balance and we now have a ratio of between 1:20 and 1:50. The best sources of Omega-3s are fatty fish like salmon, herring, black cod, mackerel, and sardines.

Clinical Research

The Mayo Clinic just released the results from 3 large clinical trials studying Omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular disease. These trials showed reductions in cardiovascular events of 19% to 45%. These findings suggest that intake of omega-3 fatty acids, whether from dietary sources or fish oil supplements, should be increased, especially in those with or at risk for coronary artery disease.

The target DHA and EPA (Omega-3 fatty acids) consumption levels are:

• 500mg a day to maintain heart health
• 1 gram per day for those with known coronary artery disease
• 3-4 gram per day for those with hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides)

For patients with hypertriglyceridemia a treatment of 3 to 4 g/d of DHA and EPA lowers triglyceride levels by 20% to 50%. Although 2 meals of oily fish per week can provide 400 to 500 mg/d of DHA and EPA, people with hypertriglyceridemia must use fish oil supplements if they are to reach 3 to 4 g/d of DHA and EPA.

Take a complete fish oil supplement

Our complete salmon oil includes 500mg of the Omega-3s EPA and DHA per serving (2 softgels) plus 6 other essential fatty acids found in whole Alaska salmon. It also contains oil soluble nutrients like antioxidants which compliment the effects of the Omega-3.

Omega-3s help your heart beyond lowering your triglycerides.

	Lower chance of blood clots - We need some blood clotting to heal injuries, but if blood clots too readily, it can block a blood vessel in the heart or brain. When this happens it can be fatal. The omega-3s from fish reduce the tendency to form blood clots and improve blood flow. Omega-3s also make red blood cells more flexible so that circulation through small blood vessels is improved.
	Reduce the chance of stroke - Blood clots that develop in the brain or are carried to the brain from elsewhere cause strokes and serious disability. They can be fatal. People who eat fish regularly are less likely to develop strokes.
	Better blood vessel function - Our arteries do more than send blood around the body. Their cells are miniature chemical factories making substances that affect blood flow and the flexibility of the artery wall. With the omega-3s from fish, arteries are more elastic and less likely to promote the formation of blood clots. As a result, blood flow and blood pressure are improved.
	Maintain normal heart rhythms - When the rhythmic beating of the heart gets out of order, a dangerous pattern of rapid heartbeats can develop, and these can be fatal. Omega-3s from fish help maintain a healthy pattern of regular heartbeats and make it more difficult for abnormal rhythms to develop.
	Reduce the chance of sudden death - Nearly half of all cardiac deaths occur suddenly, before a person can seek help. Omega-3s from fish help prevent this type of fatality. One of the ways they do this is by maintaining stable heartbeats, making it more difficult for rapid uncontrolled rhythms to develop.
	Lower chance of having a first heart attack - People at high risk of having a heart attack may be less likely to develop one if they consume the omega-3s from fish on a regular basis. Omega-3s help the heart by slowing the development of atherosclerosis (clogged blood vessels) and improving heart function.
	Reduce inflammation - As heart disease develops, blood vessels become mildly inflamed and this makes heart failure more likely. This inflammation is greatly reduced in people who regularly consume fatty fish or the omega-3s from fish.