Millions of people take omega-3 fish oil supplements to better their health but a new advisory is warning: Unless you’re recovering from a heart attack or grappling with heart failure, these supplements are a waste of money.
In a new advisory out of the American Heart Association, scientists suggest that there isn’t enough scientific evidence that fish oil supplements are worthwhile for the general public.
“People in the general population who are taking omega-3 fish oil supplements are taking them in the absence of scientific data that shows any benefit of the supplements in preventing heart attacks, stroke, heart failure or death for people who do not have a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease,” Dr. David Siscovick, who led the writing of the new advisory, said in an AHA statement.
READ MORE: Fish oil helps to slow, prevent damage after a heart attack
Siscovick and the advisory group came to this conclusion after reviewing several clinical trials that look at whether fish oil supplements help prevent heart disease, heart attacks, strokes and heart rhythm disorders.
They combed over 15 studies dating back to 2002 when the AHA last issued a statement on fish and omega-3 supplements.
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What’s changed since 2002? Turns out, the research community uncovered a link between fish oil supplements and better outcomes for heart failure patients. A large study points to a low dose of the supplement reducing both death and hospitalization by about nine per cent in people with heart failure.
Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart can’t adequately pump blood.
The updated advisory also suggests that heart attack survivors can even benefit from omega-3s, but that was already offered up in 2002 while more studies have backed that finding up in recent years.
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While the researchers couldn’t find any benefit for staving off heart disease in healthy patients, they admit they didn’t look into whether eating fish helped. (Fish consumption has been tied to better heart and brain health.)
For now, they’re willing to recommend that doctors should consider omega-3 fish oil supplements for heart disease patients, but not for the general public.
Last summer, Harvard Medical School doctors said that giving heart attack survivors omega-3s every day for six months can help with improving heart function.
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It could be because the omega-3s help the heart contract better and cuts back on tissue buildup in undamaged parts of the vital organ.
“Our findings show that omega-3 fatty acids are a safe and effective treatment in improving cardiac remodelling, so it may be promising in reducing the incidence of heart failure or death, which are still major healthcare burdens to patients who suffer a heart attack,” lead researcher, Dr. Raymond Kwong, explained.
For decades, health officials have been encouraging consumers to eat two servings of fish per week. A serving is about 3.5 ounces or the size of a chequebook.
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Fish is high in protein, low in saturated fat and a great source of omega-3s. Experts point to salmon, mackerel, herring, trout, sardines and albacore tuna as key options.
Omega-3s help with lowering cholesterol, fighting inflammation that can damage blood vessels, decreasing triglycerides, and lowering blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The AHA’s report was published in the journal Circulation.
carmen.chai@globalnews.ca
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