Benefits of omega-three fatty acids are questioned.

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

It is possible that the health benefits of oily fish and omega-three supplements have been overstated, according to a new analysis.
Omega-3 fatty acids, from oily fish or supplements, have been long believed to protect against heart disease. But, warn researchers at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, the benefits may have been overstated. They analyzed 89 studies which assessed the impact of omega-3s on total mortality, cardiac events like heart attacks, stroke and cancer.

There was no strong evidence that omega-3s protect from cardiac events or reduce overall mortality. Nor was there any effect on stroke or cancer. The researchers say there is no reason why people shouldn't follow the guidelines to eat more oily fish but there needs to be more research into what the benefit actually is. People with angina shouldn't take omega-3s to ward off a heart attack, because they probably won't be effective. And there's another problem - what about the fish? The world's fish stocks are decreasing drastically because of overfishing -; they are down 90 per cent since 1950. Fish farming may be on the increase, but we don't really have a sustainable supply of omega-3s. There needs to be more research - in terms of good quality trials - to see whether they do offer us any benefits.

Source
BMJ Online First 23rd March 2006

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