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HWN Suggests

Fishy Fish Pills

A few years ago, for reasons I can’t quite explain, I got into the habit of popping an omega-3 capsule every morning. I had never read a scientific article about the medical benefits of the supplement—I had never even looked for one. I just had an amorphous notion that this translucent orb of amber oil squeezed from the gland of a happy salmon was good for me. To be honest, I don’t think I could have even told you what they were supposed to do.

Which also seems to be the growing consensus among experts. A recent meta-analysis of 79 randomized controlled trials following more than 100,000 participants added to the growing corpus of non-findings. The study catalogued a litany of heart…

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 Is Fish Oil Helpful or Harmful for the Heart?

Despite decades of research, the evidence for omega-3 supplements is murky.

 The false promise of fish oil supplements

Despite what the labels say, there's no evidence that these amber capsules will improve your cardiovascular health — and they may even harm it.

 The Fraud of Fish Oil Is Exposed. Will Kale Be Next?

Since fried liver, I’ve been pretty sure that ‘healthy’ foods are not what they seem.

 Why Fish Oil Supplements Can Be Dangerous for the Heart

Most people are familiar with the best things to eat for a healthy heart: vegetables, low-fat dairy, and lean proteins like fish. Some fish like salmon also have the added benefit of being full of omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy fats that can help to raise good cholesterol and lower triglycerides. Or so we thought. Studies on the benefits of fish oil, and fish oil supplements, haven’t been as conclusive when it comes to actually preventing heart disease for people who aren’t at higher risk. In the latest, published in BMJ, researchers report that people with no history of heart problems who regularly took fish oil supplements actually increased their risk of atrial fibrillation.

 Wonder drug or waste of money? The truth about fish oil supplements

But the scientific data isn’t as emphatic. A 2018 meta analysis found that taking fish oil supplements “does not benefit heart health or reduce our risk of stroke or death by any cause”. Last year, a study found that fish oil may increase risk of heart conditions and stroke for those without cardiovascular disease. Also, a lot of fish oil supplements seem to be rancid.

Articles of Interest

Fish oil: friend or foe?

The answer is more friend than foe, especially if the fish oil comes from food sources rather than supplements.

A new report debunks the health benefits of taking omega-3 supplements

A new report published by the National Institute for Health and Research in the UK shows the long-term effects of taking omega-3 pills doesn’t stack up to the hype.

Fish Oil: Hunting for Evidence to Tip the Scales

As debate continues, studies explore whether fish-oil supplements can help with heart health, depression, inflammation, autism and premature birth.

Millions take omega-3 fish oil for brain health but a new study found no benefit

A large clinical trial found that omega-3 fish oil supplements failed to improve memory or slow brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Omega-3 Supplements: In Depth

There has been a substantial amount of research on supplements of omega-3s, particularly those found in seafood and fish oil, and heart disease. The findings of individual studies have been inconsistent.

Omega-3s: Is It an Environmental Disaster?

Are Omega-3 fatty acids one of nature's wonder supplements or are we just destroying the fish and the oceans and ultimately ourselves in the quest for health?

The Science — And Environmental Hazards — Behind Fish Oil Supplements

Author Paul Greenberg says the harvesting of tiny fish for omega-3 supplements is having a ripple effect, leading to less healthy and bountiful oceans. His new book is The Omega Principle.

Do fish oil supplements work? Science keeps giving us slippery answers

Two new studies came to opposite conclusions about preventing heart disease with fish oil. What the heck is going on?

Experts Agree: Fish Oil Supplements Are Worth It

Like with many wellness trends, supplement chatter tends to come and go (with varying levels of efficacy). While there’s not always a ton of clinical data behind the trends—and medical professionals rarely agree on efficacy (ahem, DIY sunscreen)—there is one supplement that many experts agree on. It’s probably time you started taking fish oil.

Failed study spawns fresh debate about fish-oil-derived drugs for heart disease

The results of a new study are re-igniting a debate among cardiologists as to whether a prescription fish oil product, Vascepa, reduces patients’ risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Fish Oil Claims Not Supported by Research

Fish oil is now the third most widely used dietary supplement in the United States, after vitamins and minerals, according to a recent report from the National Institutes of Health. At least 10 percent of Americans take fish oil regularly, most believing that the omega-3 fatty acids in the supplements will protect their cardiovascular health. But there is one big problem: The vast majority of clinical trials involving fish oil have found no evidence that it lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Fish Oil Could Be a Modern-Day Snake Oil

The premise that fish oil is good for your heart is based on questionable data

Fish oil labels are misleading, new study shows

Fish oil is one of the most popular dietary supplements in the U.S., but a new study finds buyers should beware. Researchers assessed the doses and health claims on hundreds of formulations and found many had confusing or misleading claims.

Fish Oil Supplement Research Remains Murky

Polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids are important parts of a healthy diet, but supplement studies have numerous sampling problems.

Hold The Salmon: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Linked to Higher Risk of Cancer

What’s good for the heart may not be so healthy for other organs, says the latest study that links omega-3 fatty acids to an elevated risk of prostate cancer.

Is omega-3 oil good or bad for us – and does it matter where it is from?

Omega-3 oils, typically found in oily fish and fish oil supplements, are often said to have numerous health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart attacks, dementia and joint pain. But recent research published in the journal BMJ Medicine shows that while fish oil supplements could reduce the risk for those who already have cardiovascular disease, they may increase the risk of someone developing a heart condition or stroke in the first place. So are omega-3s good for you, and does it matter how you get them?

Omega-3 intake for cardiovascular disease

It is not clear that dietary or supplemental omega 3 fats alter total mortality, combined cardiovascular events or cancers in people with, or at high risk of, cardiovascular disease or in the general population. There is no evidence we should advise people to stop taking rich sources of omega 3 fats, but further high quality trials are needed to confirm suggestions of a protective effect of omega 3 fats on cardiovascular health. There is no clear evidence that omega 3 fats differ in effectiveness according to fish or plant sources, dietary or supplemental sources, dose or presence of placebo.

Omega-3s Show No Overall Benefits for Heart Health or Cancer Prevention

Two analyses found no overall harms or benefits from taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements.

Omega-3s: Worth the Heart-Health Hype?

Nuts, salmon, supplements: Our expert explores the benefits of fish oil.

Resources

7 best fish oil supplements

The best way to get your Omega-3 is to take one of the best fish oil supplements. We're featuring Elm & Rye alongside other options to get your best fish oil supplement this year.

LabDoor

LabDoor analyzed 51 best-selling fish oil supplements in the United States, measuring total omega-3 content, EPA and DHA quantities, vitamin D and CLA amounts, methylmercury concentration, and total oxidation values.

Omega3Report

This site is dedicated to providing you with the best information regarding Omega-3 and the many benefits it possesses.

The #1 Best Omega-3 Supplement to Take, Says Dietitian

In my opinion, the best omega-3 supplement is one that provides at least 500 milligrams of two major sources of omega-3 fatty acids—EPA and DHA—and is made from concentrated fish oil.

GOED

A proactive and accountable association of the finest manufacturers, marketers, and supporters of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, working to educate consumers and work with government groups, the healthcare community and the industry, while setting high ethical and quality standards for our business sector.

OmegaQuant

Our goal is to offer the highest quality fatty acid analytical services to researchers and to provide simple tests of nutritional status to consumers, with the ultimate purpose of advancing the science and use of omega-3 fatty acids to improve health.

OmegaVia

OmegaVia is a premium Omega-3 fish oil supplement. It has 3X as much Omega-3 as regular fish oil. So you get faster benefits with fewer pills. Pure. Safe. Effective.