Bytheway...Supplementsmaydomoreharmthangood

A READER wrote to me recently about confusion over the benefits of omega 3 supplements.

There are studies showing that increasing the intake of these essential fatty acids may help defer the onset of dementia (which makes sense, as 60 per cent of the dry weight of the brain is made up of these substances).

However, another study has revealed that high omega 3 levels are associated with an increase in the risk of prostate cancer.

So, what are we to think faced with conflicting advice? The roots of the confusion lie in a large study published in late 2011, involving 35,000 men. It found vitamin E supplements raised the risk of prostate cancer.

However, that increased risk was reduced if a selenium supplement was given at the same time. So far so good.

But then in 2013 we learned that using the same blood samples from the 2011 study, the researchers identified a higher risk of prostate cancer among men with higher omega 3 levels.

This is not the same as saying taking added omega 3 will push up the chances of getting prostate cancer, but is highly suggestive. We already know vitamin A supplements increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Vitamin E supplements do not reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease or cancer in postmenopausal women, but a vitamin E rich diet does.

What is the answer to these puzzles? Meddle at your peril; concentrate on eating a healthy balanced diet and do not waste your money on supplements.

And as for dementia protection, the only thing proven to work is regular physical exercise.