Monday, February 23, 2009

Did The Pittsburgh Steelers Have A Secret Weapon

By Dr. Bill

I'm getting ready for another road trip, and then I'm going to be settling in for a couple of months in Long Island. Hopefully Spring isn't far off, and the sunshine is coming quickly. Really quickly, because these bones don't like the cold much anymore.

Today I found an interesting article published in the first issue of Sports Health: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach. It's a medical publication that probably wouldn't have much appeal for sports fans.

Just take a look at the title, which was "Evaluation of Lipid Profiles and the Use of Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acid in Professional Football Players." Most would find the box score of a Celtics game more fun, but I love this kind of stuff. So let my nerdish obsessions work in your favor.

To make it easier for you to understand, 36 members of the Steelers were given pharmaceutical grade fish oil, and then evaluated using what is called a VAP(R)Cholesterol Test. What they were looking for was emerging cardiovascular risk factors, and determining whether omega 3 EFAs (essential fatty acids), found in pharmaceutical grade fish oil can reduce these factors.

Each participant was given 2560 mg per day during the period of study of EPA/DHA omega 3 fatty acid supplements.

According to Dr. James Erlich, the Chief Medical Officer of Atherotech, a partner in the study, professional football players are statistically at higher than normal risk for future cardiovascular disease and sudden heart attack.

This doesn't surprise me, judging by the bodies when they line up to play. These guys are massive, and linemen are considered "light" at 280 pounds these days. A 300 pound lineman is now common. When their careers end, the sheer body mass catches up with them.

The VAP Tests determined that pharmaceutical grade fish oil improved good cholesterol in Steeler players, and lowered damaging particles and triglycerides. Elevated levels of triglycerides (ie., animal fats) are associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Taking the pharmaceutical grade fish oil may not have helped much when they played against the Cardinals, but it will help them after the game's over, for the rest of their lives. These guys are tough, big, strong, and kind of crazy. After all, they play professional sports.

And the fact is, many of them die much too young, often from heart attack and stroke. Giving these Sunday warriors pharmaceutical grade fish oil is a big step in the right direction.

Keep in mind that fish oil is not just for professional athletes, or just 300 pounders. It can help virtually anyone, from helping to quell joint pain to assisting in the flushing of your arteries to stopping migraines.

If you want to extend your reservation at this grand hotel, get some now, and keep taking it.

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