Fish oil is a popular health supplement for many, especially the elderly. Whether fish oil actually helps to promote longevity is a controversial topic.
A new study from Greece shows no clear evidence that long-term use of fish oil can effectively prevent heart disease and stroke. This research report was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Poor Effectiveness
Under the leadership of medical professor Evangelos Rizos, researchers analyzed 20 meticulously designed clinical studies. These studies focused on people who took omega-3 fatty acid supplements derived from fish oil. These 20 studies were conducted between 1989 and 2012, involving a total of 68,680 adults, with a study duration of at least one year.
Strict data analysis showed no significant association between supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids through diet or supplements and a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease.
The British Daily Mail quoted Rizos as saying, "Our research shows that omega-3 fatty acids are not a proper structured intervention in daily clinical practice."
The study from the University Hospital of Ioannina is not the first to claim that fish oil is ineffective. In April of this year, a Korean study involving 20,000 people reached similar results.
Widely Popular
A large-scale study in 1989 showed that men who had previously had heart disease and incorporated oily fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel into their daily diet had a 29% lower risk of death within two years. Driven by this study and others, many medical organizations have recommended that people at risk of heart disease either eat more fish or take omega-3 fatty acid supplements.
In recent years, fish oil has become one of the most popular health supplements in the United States. An article in Forbes magazine showed that in 2010, Americans spent nearly $4 billion on products containing fish oil.
"Fish oil is a natural food with no side effects, which is why it is liked by patients and doctors," said Dr. Howard Weintraub, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at New York University in the United States.
Mixed Opinions
So, should you take fish oil? Experts are divided. Professor Steven Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic in the United States said, "There has never been convincing evidence that it (fish oil) is clinically beneficial."
Melvin Rubenfeld of the University of Michigan said that he and many experts believe people should stop blindly worshipping fish oil, but that people with high triglycerides can indeed benefit from taking it in moderation.
The head of the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Center at the Tufts Medical Center in Boston believes that eating healthy foods rather than supplements is beneficial to health. He said that research has repeatedly proven that foods rich in nutrients like vitamins are good for your health, but people always think, "If you take supplements containing these ingredients, you will be healthier," which is not the case.