Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 13, 1995                   TAG: 9504130048
SECTION: NATL/INTL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: BOSTON                                  LENGTH: Short

STUDY: EATING FISH DOESN'T PROTECT HEART

The study, the largest ever to examine the issue, found that men who eat fish several times a week are just as likely to have heart trouble as those who have it once a month.

Despite its size and careful design, however, the research is unlikely to be the last word on the health effects of fish. Some other smaller studies have found that fish eaters live longer. Moreover, heart disease is less common in places such as Japan and Greenland where fish is a big part of the diet.

Nevertheless, this study was conducted by a highly respected team of dietary researchers, and its findings at least cast a shadow on dietary dogma.

``It doesn't mean fish consumption is bad. The question is emphasis. Maybe some people are eating fish instead of vegetables or exercising and think they are protected. This suggests that is not the case,'' said Dr. Alberto Ascherio, principal author of the report.