Amarin Pharmaceutical’s fish oil drug Vascepa reduced the rate of cardiovascular problems by 25%.

Fish oil has been recognized for some time to have positive health benefits and the rapid expansion of the market for fish oil dietary supplements has been a direct result of this.

Amarin Pharmaceutical’s drug Vascepa is derived from fish oils and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the reduction of triglycerides in patients with levels higher than three times the norm.

There was no hard evidence, however, that this fish oil product would have any effect on cardiovascular health. Other fish oil pills previously investigated are available at much lower doses and are often taken along with cholesterol-lowing drugs, which are effective on their own at reducing heart attacks and strokes.

However, the results of a recent clinical study provide strong evidence that Vascepa does indeed reduce the risk of heart problems. In the study of over 8100 patients with high triglycerides (median levels 50% higher than normal) and a history of cardiovascular problems (heart attack, stroke) or diabetes and other risk factors for heart diseases, the rate of cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks and strokes, was reduced by 25%.

These results, according to Amarin President and CEO, "could lead to a new paradigm in treatment to further reduce the significant cardiovascular risk that remains in millions of patients" whose cholesterol is controlled, but whose levels of triglycerides are high.