Eating fish helps slow atherosclerosis in women, especially those with diabetes.

2004 OCT 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Women may want to make certain they include enough fish in their diet, especially tuna and other dark fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, to help slow the progression of heart disease.

A recent study by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and their colleagues showed that postmenopausal women who had previously been diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) and who consumed more fish in their diet had a slower progression of plaque buildup in their arteries than those women who consumed little fish in their diet. This association was particularly strong for women with diabetes.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and men in the United States. The number of people with diabetes, a major risk factor for heart disease, has been increasing, partially related to the surge in obesity.

"This study shows that following the current guidelines of eating at least two servings of any type of fish per week slows down the progression of heart disease in women with CAD, especially those who were also diabetic," said Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, an author of the study and director of the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at Tufts. "We further found that eating one or more servings per week of fish that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as tuna or other dark-fleshed fish, is equally effective."

CAD is more generally associated with men, but after ...