The U.S. study showed supplements of of purified Omega 7 oil , the key fatty acid found in anchovies , could reduce harmful blood fats and boost 'good ' cholestrol . Anchovies could hold the key to cutting risk factors for heart disease and stroke . An extract of omega oil found in them reduced levels of harmful blood fats and boosted ‘ good ’ cholesterol . The findings come from the first human trial of supplements of purified Omega 7 oil , the key fatty acid found in anchovies . After just a month volunteers were found to have a 44 per cent cut in C-reactive protein ( CRP ) , a marker of inflammation in the blood , along with triglycerides and bad LDL cholesterol . Experts say the health benefits of palmitoleic acid , the prime Omega 7 acid , are only just emerging . Dr Michael Roizen , who led the US study , said ‘ I think the major benefit come from decreasing inflammation as well as a beneficial effect on other contributing risk factors to cardiovascular disease , with no side effects that we know of. ’ Dr Roizen , professor of medicine and head of the Wellness Institute at the Cleveland Clinic , said ‘ The trial showed inflammatory markers were reduced and the effect on good fats was a bonus . ‘ There seems to be a lot of benefit and not much risk – this could help us tackle some of the factors made worse by obesity that can lead to heart disease , ’ he added . In the study , 60 adult volunteers were randomly assigned to take 220mg of palmitoleic acid once a day or an inactive supplement for 30 days . Those taking part had mildly raised levels of blood fats and inflammation . After the study tests showed a 44 per cent reduction in CRP , 15 per cent cut in triglycerides and eight per cent fall in LDL cholesterol – all factors linked to heart disease . Levels of HDL – a good form of cholesterol – rose five per cent compared with those taking dummy capsules . The trial , published by the Journal of Clinical Lipidology , was funded by Tersus Pharmaceuticals which provided the experimental capsules called Provinal . Provinal is available in the UK as Pura 7 , a new brand of Omega 7 concentrated wild anchovy oil . Unlike the better known polyunsaturated fatty acids known as omega-3s , omega-7s are monounsaturated fats and they have different mechanisms of action . But to get the same effect from anchovies alone would mean eating a can of the fish a day . Palmitoleic acid was found by scientists at Harvard University in 2008 to be the first fatty acid to act as a hormone in the body . It plays an important role in regulating metabolism and appears to protect against harmful processes associated with obesity-related diseases such as diabetes . Dr Roizen , who chairs the scientific advisory board for Tersus Pharmaceuticals , said people would have to eat around a can of anchovies a day to get the same amount of omega 7 oil from a daily dose of supplements . ‘ That ’ s a reasonable amount of anchovies every day if you like them , but some people find it simpler and more convenient to take supplements ’ he added . For further information on Pura 7 , visit www.pura7.co.uk .
An extract of omega oil found in them reduced levels of harmful blood fats . Purified Omega 7 oil supplement trial found it boosted 'good ' cholesterol . Comment: