Fish Oil Supplements Do Not Protect Against Heart Diseases, No Better Than A Placebo

Researchers at Melbourne’s Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, the University of South Australia, and the CSIRO reviewed data from 2007 to 2013 and found that fish oil supplements do no protect against heart diseases. Researchers examined the benefits of fish oil supplements for the hearts of healthy people and those who have had a heart attack and are taking the supplement to prevent further episodes.

Paul Nestel, Professor at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, said, "To our disappointment to some extent the evidence since 2008, based on a large number of studies and first-class studies, show that taking fish oil supplements did not benefit those people who’ve had a previous heart attack - it’s not better than a placebo."

Evidence suggests that fish oil supplement is not as good as eating fish. More research is needed to explain why eating fish is better for heart health than taking a fish oil supplement, said Professor Nestel.

The researchers said, for people to reduce risk of heart disease they need to rely on two to three serves of fish including oily fish and not supplements.

National Heart Foundation to review the guidelines on fish and fish oil supplements based on the new research findings.

The study has been published in the Heart, Lung and Circulation Journal .

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Source-Medindia