The Defender

For years, cardiologists have been encouraging people to eat more fish with omega-3 fatty acids as a way to boost cardiovascular health. Now, an  article published in August 2019 in the AHA journal  Circulation   further validates the benefits of these acids, finding that prescription fish oil medication lowers triglyceride levels by 20 to 30 percent in patients who already require triglyceride-reducing drugs. Triglycerides  are the most common type of fat found in the blood,  according to the American Heart Association (AHA) . When levels are too high (above 200 milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL), fatty deposits are more likely to build up in the arteries, which raises the risk of heart problems.  The Cleveland Clinic notes  that very high levels (above 500 mg/dL) of triglycerides can lead to  pancreatitis , an inflammation of the  pancreas . “About 25 to 30 percent of the adult population have high triglycerides [HTG] — that’s a lot,” says lead author  Ann Skul