EPISODE #2: The Connection Between the Omega-3 Index & Heart Rate Recovery
HOSTS: Drs. Bill Harris & Kristina Harris Jackson
GUESTS: Stephen Farrell, PhD, FACSM, Senior Investigator, The Cooper Institute
Key takeaways from this Episode:
Initiated in 1970, the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study (CCLS) is the world’s largest and longest running observational study measuring cardiorespiratory fitness.
Since its landmark study in 1989 showing the association between being fit and lower mortality, research from the CCLS continues to evaluate the benefits of regular exercise, healthy lifestyle, and preventive healthcare; effectively proving again and again that exercise truly is medicine.
Those of us that are health conscious are well aware that poor cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a strong predictor of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. The gold standard for measuring CRF is a maximal treadmill exercise test performed in a clinical setting.
In recent years, heart rate recovery (HRR) from maximal exercise has also been identified as an important cardiovascular health measure. HRR is defined as the difference between maximal exercise heart rate and the heart rate at a given time point following exercise (or how quickly does your heart rate drop at a certain time after stopping exercise).
Most of us are also aware that omega-3 fatty acids, more commonly known as “fish oils,” are found in fatty fish as well as in supplement form, and have been shown to be beneficial to cardiovascular health. The Cooper Clinic measures omega-3 fatty acid levels in the blood using a method called the Omega-3 Index. The Omega-3 Index is a measure of what percentage of fatty acids in red blood cells are omega-3s.
There are 3 categories for the Omega-3 Index — low is <4%, normal is 4-8%, and optimal is >8%.
Comparing each patient’s heart rate recovery with their Omega-3 Index, the researchers found a significant relationship between these two variables such that the higher the Index, the faster the heart rate dropped down. The effect was more marked in women than men, but statistically significant in both.
Researchers also noted that many individuals in this study were involved in healthier habits, which may have also played a role in these results. But lead researcher, Dr. Stephen Farrell, believes these results signal a combination — that both being highly fit and having an optimal Omega-3 Index are keys to maintaining excellent health.
To watch this episode, visit our YouTube channel.
For more information about OmegaMatters, visit https://omegaquant.com/omegamatters-broadcasts/.
For more information about omega-3 testing, visit: https://omegaquant.com/omega-3-index-complete/
