Experts Weigh in on the Latest Heart Health Findings on Fish Oil

Few things in the wellness sector are as prevalent and difficult to understand as suggestions regarding vitamins, supplements, and their potential benefits.

The risk-benefit profile of fish oil on heart health was examined in a study that lasted years and revealed that, in individuals who were not at high risk, taking fish oil on a regular basis may slightly raise the risk of cardiovascular events, such as stroke and atrial fibrillation. This research was published last month in the journal BMJ Medicine.

The researchers discovered a link between the progression of cardiovascular disease in individuals who already had it and the benefits of taking fish oil supplements.

The most popular kind of omega-3 supplement available over-the-counter may be fish oil supplements. People gravitate toward these frequently found in pill form since additional study has connected omega-3 consumption to possibly improving a number of health issues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cognition, and even conditions like ADHD. The most recent finding connected omega-3 supplementation to a decrease in rage.

It is “not a new issue, just a new paper on the issue,” Dr. Andrew Freeman, a cardiologist with National Jewish Health in Denver, told CNET, adding that the possibility that fish oil supplements may not improve heart health for the general public is not new.

He went on to say that “highly purified” fish oil supplements, such as Lovaza and Vascepa, which are prescribed by a doctor to lower triglycerides, are not the same as over-the-counter supplements. (High cholesterol raises the risk of cardiovascular disease.)

The study’s limitations, such as the fact that participants self-reported their intake of fish oil, mean that it is far from definitive on the risks and benefits of omega-3 supplements. However, it raises important issues that continue to challenge the US Food and Drug Administration’s recommendations regarding supplements in general, such as the fact that most of our nutrients should come from food and diet.

Eating habits such as the Mediterranean diet, which emphasize plant-based foods high in healthy fats, lean proteins, and some food-based sources of fish oil, are still associated with favorable health outcomes. Omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients may be abundant in those diets, but it hasn’t been easy to duplicate those advantages in supplement form.

A crucial disclaimer is that people take supplements—such as omega-3s and fish oil—for purposes other than heart health. As such, the recommendation on whether or not to take a supplement relies on you, your diet, and your long-term health objectives, which may change.

“In general, there isn’t much evidence supporting omega-3 supplements,” a New York-based primary care physician named Dr. Navya Mysore stated via email. She advised anyone who are interested in incorporating one into their regimen for any health issue to consult a physician before “making a personalized decision for yourself.”

What did the study find? Strengths and limitations

The BMJ Medicine study tracked almost 400,000 individuals, aged 40 to 69, who were participated in the UK Biobank study. The study looked at the individuals’ stated dietary and lifestyle characteristics, such as regular meal consumption and the use of fish oil supplements, as well as health occurrences.

Following a number of years, the researchers discovered that while taking fish oil supplements was associated with a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes in the general population (i.e., those without cardiovascular disease), it was beneficial for those who already had the condition.

The study’s strengths are its size and ability to monitor cardiac event occurrences. Researchers also gathered information on general eating, smoking, and binge drinking—all of which can have an impact on heart health. It “did not consider behavioral changes in populations with different cardiovascular profiles,” the researchers noted in their report. Furthermore, it is unable to take into consideration all health-related behaviors that could affect an individual’s wellness decisions, which are infamously difficult to isolate and attribute to a single cause or effect.

Furthermore, the majority of study participants were Caucasian, the researchers pointed out, thus it is unclear from this study alone if a similar connection can be made for persons of other ethnicities. Crucially, it failed to take into consideration the brands or kinds of fish oil that individuals were taking or their dosage.

Who should take this study to heart?

The study’s authors noted that further research is necessary to fully understand the relationship between cardiovascular events and fish oil, and that the latest findings should not cause you to panic and believe that omega-3s or fish oil supplements are a miracle cure. Rather, they are a follow-up to ongoing investigations into the complex and multifaceted relationship between omega-3s and various health benefits when they are taken as supplements. Most of it, at least for the general public, has been contradictory or unclear.

The benefits of fish oil cannot be conclusively refuted by this study alone, says NYU Langone cardiologist Dr. Gregory Katz.

“To change clinical practice, only a randomized trial actually lets you see cause and effect,” Katz wrote in a message. “A study like this doesn’t tell you whether the fish oil caused the irregular heartbeats.”

However, he noted, “Some of the clinical trials on high-dose omega-3 supplements have shown a signal that may be associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that does increase the risk of stroke.”

The evidence is also hazy because ALA is a “precursor in the body to DHA and EPA, which are the active omega-3s,” Katz said, adding that the process by which it is converted to active omega-3s isn’t as efficient and it may be “not all that useful.” This raises questions about whether vegan or vegetarian omega-3 supplements—those derived from ALA instead of DHA and EPA—would be better.

Thus, everything boils down to the same recommendation: whenever feasible, obtain your omega-3s and all other nutrients from food. If that’s not feasible, discuss with your physician the suitability of beginning a food supplement or taking extra vitamins. You should talk with someone who is familiar with your medical history so you can assess the dangers and benefits of taking omega-3s, as some people may be interested in them for purposes other than heart health.

In a comprehensive review, updated in 2023, the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements concluded that “consuming fish and other types of seafood as part of a balanced diet promotes heart health, especially when the seafood is consumed in place of less healthy foods.” The review examined studies that were available on omega-3s and omega-3 supplements for a wide range of health conditions, including cardiovascular disease. However, there is more proof that vitamins protect the heart in those who already have a condition.

However, the most recent research does highlight some crucial details about supplements.

Regarding the most recent fish oil study, “not everybody’s the same,” stated Freeman. “Not all drugs are the same, and what may seem benign may not always be the case.”

This article’s content is not meant to be used as medical or health advice; rather, it is solely meant to be educational and informative. Any queries you may have concerning a medical issue or your goals for your health should always be directed toward a doctor or other trained health expert.