Do you take fish oil capsules in the hope that they will protect you from heart disease? Unnecessarily. Scientists have concluded that such supplements cannot replace a healthy diet.
Analysis of data on 68 thousand patients who have participated in 24 clinical trials over the past 20 years have proven that taking fish oil supplements does not, however, reduce the risk of various diseases, including heart attack and stroke, and does not lower the risk of death.
Various opinions on the purported benefits of taking fish fat supplements, which contain omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, could create confusion in daily clinical practice, especially when it comes to using such supplements to protect against heart disease, writes in his report Moses Elisaf, a researcher at the University of Ioannina in Greece who led the study.
Greek scientists confirmed that taking fish fat tablets to avoid heart disease does not bring the expected results. The finding contradicts previous research that claimed the various health benefits of taking supplements. The report is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
In their research work, scientists used meta-analysis – a type of study in which data obtained from other studies are assessed and analyzed, without conducting their own clinical trials. Patients – mostly of European descent – consumed an average of 1,5 grams of an omega-3 fatty acid supplement per day over a two-year period.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends eating fish at least twice a week. Patients with chronic heart disease should consume at least 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acid daily, preferably through a diet. According to the AHA, some patients are forced to take supplements to ensure the recommended dose – such people should take the tablets only after consulting a doctor.
Earlier studies, such as the Italian one called GISSI, proved that fish fat is beneficial to health.
Man does not produce omega-3 fatty acid on his own. However, this substance is essential for the proper functioning of the brain, growth and development. Fatty acids can be found in foods such as fish, walnuts and flaxseeds.