Consumption of healthy fats in the form of a diet rich in omega-3 fish oil can reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels resulting in a marked improvement in the Metabolic syndrome, new research suggests.

The results of the study, reported in the upcoming issue of medical journal Nutrition, suggests a diet high in mono-saturated fat or low on fat and high on complex carbs and omega-3 fatty acids resulted in a marked reduction in triglycerides and cholesterol levels.

Instances of high cholesterol and triglycerides cause the metabolic syndrome which represents a bunch of risks that doctors believe causes higher incidents of heart attacks and diabetes.

The common symptoms include high blood pressure, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and abdominal fat. The research was conducted on a sample size of 117 people who were suffering from the syndrome.

The sample group was split into four, each taking special diets for 12 weeks. The first group ate a diet that was high in saturated fat while the second consumed a diet containing mono-saturated fat. The third group was fed a low fat, but high in complex carbs diet that included whole grains and fruits. The fourth team ate a diet high in complex carbs and supplemented by omega-3 fatty acids.

The team ensured that all the four groups had diets that contained similar amount of calories. They tested the blood samples of all the participants at the start and end of the study period.

The participants who were eating a diet low in fat and high in complex carbs showed spikes in cholesterol and triglyceride levels after each meal. However, adding omega-3 fatty acids seemed to reduce this effect considerably.

The next part of the study is scheduled to check the impact of these food types on patients for a longer duration in order to confirm the long-term effects of dietary fat interventions on cardiovascular risk factors.