Fish oil supplements, prized by many people for their heart protection, are more likely to have negative effects in healthy people, while they may have positive effects in people who already have heart disease, according to a new study with data from more than 400,000 British.
A study on multivitamin preparations published in the US shows similar results. Conclusion: Life expectancy cannot be extended by taking vitamin pills.
Fish oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, has been promoted for about 20 years as a preventative against cardiovascular disease, when taken daily.
The scientific data on the positive effects of fish oil products is at best moderate. For example, Norwegian cardiologist Are Kalstad explained in November 2020: “The fact that there was no indication of any effect of omega-3 fatty acids in the test group indicates – together with other neutral studies – that omega-3 fatty acids 3-Dietary supplements are not effective in preventing cardiovascular events.”
13 percent increased risk
Omega-3 fatty acid products may have negative effects on healthy people. “Among those without known cardiovascular disease at the start of the observation period, regular use of fish oil supplements was associated with a 13 percent increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation and a five percent increased risk of stroke,” the German Medical Journal summarized the results of a Chinese study.
The nutritional supplement industry is booming
On the other hand, the study – in complete contrast to the study of heart attack patients in Norway – showed evidence of positive effects in people who already suffered from heart disease in the first place if they regularly took such nutritional supplements. But the trade in nutritional supplements to improve health is still flourishing…
Source: Krone
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