Issfal Board Statement No 1:

General Statement on Nutrition and Fatty Acids

Prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease in the community requires changes in lifestyle factors which are reversible. These include smoking and physical inactivity. Furthermore, faulty dietary habits can lead to high blood lipid levels,  contribute to high blood pressure, and increase the tendency for thrombosis. Extensive scientific data support that several of these diet-relates risk factors can be substantially diminished by the omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish. Dietary intake of such omega-3 fatty acids higher than is usual in Western diets is advisable in order to reduce the risk of CHD.

Note - This health message statement was developed by a subcommittee of the Board of Directors of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL) and approved by the majority of the directors in August 1993