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Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Concern as researchers link 'healthy' snacks to raised risk of a sudden heart attack
Oily fish, nuts and avocados—prized for being sources of 'healthy' fats—may not be as good for us as previously believed, scientists have claimed. The key culprit, according to Australian researchers, is fats in these foods known as omega-3—which studies have previously suggested protect heart health. However new evidence suggests omega-3 is linked to inflammation in the body, increasing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and even a heart attack. The findings come from a major study involving 2,800 participants in the landmark Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), also known as Children of the 90s—one of the most detailed long-term health studies ever carried out. Researchers have followed the health of over 14,000 families in the Avon area since 1991, when the mothers were first recruited during pregnancy. The latest research looked at data collected when the children turned 24. After accounting for lifestyle factors such as smoking, scientists found that diets rich in omega-6 were associated with higher levels of GlycA—a blood biomarker linked to chronic inflammation, cancer and heart problems. Omega-6, found in vegetable and seed oils, has, in recently years, increasingly been associated with poor heart health. However, surprisingly, the researchers also found increased GlycA in those who consumed foods rich in omega-3 fats, which are usually considered 'heart healthy'. Professor Thomas Holland, from the RUSH institute for Healthy Aging, Chicago, who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today the results were 'unexpected'. He added: 'Omega-3s are found in dark fatty fish, like salmon and sardines, and in plant-based foods like flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts. 'Most people think of them as calming to the immune system. Yet in this study, higher omega-3 levels were linked to more inflammation, not less.' Lead author of the study, Professor Daisy Crick, an expert in molecular science from Queensland University, said: 'Our findings suggest that it's not as simple as "omega-3 is anti-inflammatory and omega-6 is pro-inflammatory".' She added that simply upping omega-3 intake may not be enough to cut inflammation or protect against heart disease. 'Improving the balance between the two fats could be a better method for people who want to reduce inflammation in their bodies,' she said. The study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, calls for further research to better understand how different fatty acids affect long-term health. Seed oils—such as sunflower, soybean and rapeseed—are high in polyunsaturated fats and have long been promoted as a 'heart healthy' alternative to saturated fats like butter and lard. But Professor Holland warned that rising consumption of seed oils could be fuelling obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and even autoimmune conditions. Around 6.3 million people in the UK are thought to have raised cholesterol, which if left untreated can cause heart attacks and strokes, and seed oils may be contributing to this, Prof Holland suggested. It comes as alarming figures last year revealed that premature deaths from heart attacks and strokes had reached their highest level in more than a decade. MailOnline has previously highlighted how the number of young people, under 40, in England being treated for heart attacks by the NHS is on the rise. Cases of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes among the under-75s has tumbled since the 1960s. This is believed to be due to plummeting smoking rates, advanced surgical techniques and breakthroughs such as stents and statins. But now, rising obesity rates, and its catalogue of associated health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes, are thought to be one of the major contributing factors.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Simple blood test could reveal your body's REAL age and how long you have left to live - would YOU take it?
It may sound like the premise of a science fiction film. But, believe it or not, US and French scientists claim to have discovered a game-changing test that could help predict lifespan. Intrinsic capacity (IC)—all the physical and mental capacities a person can draw on, including their ability to walk, think, see, hear and remember—has long been considered a good marker of healthy aging. But until now, measuring IC has been considered a costly and time-consuming assessment of physical health. Yet the researchers say a simple saliva or blood test could measure IC by monitoring DNA methylation patterns—chemical tags that regulate gene activity in the body—to estimate a person's biological age. In a 10-year-long study, tracking more than 1,000 adults aged between 20 and 102-years-old, they developed IC scores for each based on five age-related risk factors—cognition, movement, vision and hearing, vitality and mental well-being. They found those with high IC scores lived 5.5 years longer on average. People with the highest IC scores had better lung function, faster walking speed, stronger bones and were more likely to view themselves as healthy. Maria Branyas Morera, who was the oldest person in the world, celebrating her 117th birthday in March A low IC was also significantly associated with an increased risk of death from age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and stroke. Professor Thomas Holland, from the RUSH institute for Healthy Aging, who was not involved in the study, said: 'A blood or saliva-based test for intrinsic capacity is a very promising tool in ageing science.' 'One of the most critical aspects is that this test can be done with a simple blood or saliva sample, making it accessible and noninvasive. He also told Medical News Today: 'It tells us not just how old you are, but how well your aging, which is much more meaningful to help inform which interventions should be implemented, if any, to help prevent future health problems. 'This test doesn't just give a snapshot of your current state, it may also offer a glimpse into your future health.' The researchers also looked at the relationship between diet and biological aging and found that those who ate oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, and limited their sugar intake, had higher IC scores. Writing in the journal Nature Aging, they said: 'We found that individuals with higher IC consumed more beer and dark meat, fish like mackerel, salmon, sardines, bluefish and swordfish, but fewer calcium supplements. 'Consuming sugar at the recommended level was also associated with a higher IC.' Dr Tunç Tiryaki, a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of the London Regenerative Institute, who wasn't involved in the research, said: 'Oily fish are rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. 'Conversely, excessive sugar intake is known to accelerate oxidative stress, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, all of which impair IC. 'Staying within recommended sugar limits likely supports metabolic flexibility and reduces inflammatory burden, preserving cognitive and physical function.' Dr Tiryaki also recommended regular physical exercise, including aerobic activity and strength training exercises, to keep the body young. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining social connections and keeping the brain stimulated to ward-off age-related diseases.
