Taking fish oil supplements regularly may increase the risk of stroke and heart disease in healthy people. However, fish oil may be beneficial for those who already have heart problems. This has been shown by a study published in the journal. BMJ Medicine.
Fish oil is a source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. For this reason, it is often recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. However, evidence regarding the effectiveness of this approach is insufficient.
In a new study, scientists analyzed data on the nutrition and health of 415,000 UK residents. Almost a third of participants were taking fish oil supplements regularly.
The results showed that for healthy people, taking fish oil supplements regularly increased the risk of stroke by 5% and a type of arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation) by 13%. This effect was especially pronounced in women and nonsmokers.
However, for people who already had arrhythmias, fish oil was associated with a 15% reduction in the risk of progressing to a heart attack. The risk of death was reduced by 9% in those with heart failure.
The scientists noted that their study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between fish oil intake and cardiovascular risk. More research is needed to determine the reasons why fish oil affects sick and healthy people differently.
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Source: Gazeta
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