New evidence published [July 18] shows there is little or no effect of omega 3 supplements on our risk of experiencing heart disease, stroke or death.
Omega 3 is a type of fat. Small amounts of omega 3 fats are essential for good health, and they can be found in the food that we eat. The main types of omega 3 fatty acids are; alphalinolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is normally found in fats from plant foods, such as nuts and seeds (walnuts and rapeseed are rich sources). EPA and DHA, collectively called long chain omega 3 fats, are naturally found in fatty fish, such as salmon and fish oils including cod liver oil.
Increased consumption of omega 3 fats is widely promoted globally because of a common belief that that it will protect against heart disease…Omega 3 fats are readily available as over-the-counter supplements and they are widely bought and used.
A new Cochrane systematic review…combines the results of seventy-nine randomised trials involving 112,059 people.
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The researchers found that increasing long-chain omega 3 provides little if any benefit on most outcomes that they looked at. They found high certainty evidence that long-chain omega 3 fats had little or no meaningful effect on the risk of death from any cause. The risk of death from any cause was 8.8% in people who had increased their intake of omega 3 fats, compared with 9% in people in the control groups.
Read full, original post: New evidence challenges belief that omega 3 supplements reduce risk of heart disease, stroke or death
