Over two five-week sessions, 41 participants diagnosed with overweight or obesity maintained a Mediterranean diet that included two servings of salmon weekly (via The Journal of Nutrition). The test revealed that salmon contains two metabolites and two salmon food-specific compounds known to support heart health. Research has revealed a connection between these four compounds and short-term improvements in participants’ total cholesterol levels, levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B, a protein that transports substances that builds plaque through the bloodstream (via the Cleveland Clinic).
The findings of this study are based on the results of previous research showing the potential benefits of salmon for cholesterol levels. This includes a 2007 study published in the scientific journal Atherosclerosis in which more than 40 non-obese adults ate 125 grams of salmon daily for four weeks, after which they abstained on eating fish for the next four weeks. Compared to blood test results taken during a fish-free period, daily salmon consumption has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol by 7% and boost HDL cholesterol by 5%.
