Fish oil pills don’t protect your heart
Major global study exposes health myth
FISH oil and omega-3 supplements offer little or no protection to the heart and may even lower healthy cholesterol, according to a major study.
The huge review looking at trial data from more than 100,000 people also failed to show any evidence that the popular supplements can reduce the risk of dying.
Millions of people take omega-3 in the belief that it helps prevent heart disease and early death.
The fatty acids, mostly found in oily fish such as salmon and tuna, are known to benefit health when consumed in small amounts in food.
But controversy surrounds the burgeoning industry and hype surrounding omega-3 supplements, which are claimed to prevent a host of ills ranging from dementia and depression to heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
The new research looked specifically at evidence of their impact on rates of heart disease, stroke and death.
Scientists from the Cochrane organisation, a global network of experts, pooled findings from 79 randomised trials involving 112,059 participants.
The studies, conducted in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, investigated the effect on the heart and arteries of taking omega-3 and fish oil supplements.
Lead researcher Dr Lee Hooper, from the University of East Anglia, said: “The review provides good evidence that taking long-chain omega 3 supplements does not benefit heart health or reduce our risk of stroke or death from any cause.”