Fish Oil Supplements May Increase Risk Of Heart Diseases: Study

Fish is an excellent source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Taking fish oil daily is a popular way to keep the risk of cardiovascular disease in check. About 20% of adults over 60 in the US eat fish frequently to support their heart health. A new study shows that taking fish oil supplements regularly may increase the risk of first-time stroke and atrial fibrillation in people with good cardiovascular health. “Is it time to throw them away or not?” said cardiologist Dr Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver, in an interview. “I say that because over-the-counter fish oil is very rarely recommended and is not included in any of the medical society guidelines, even though that’s what most people take,” said Freeman, who was not involved in the study.

The study analysed data from more than 4,15,000 people ages 40 to 69 who participated in the UK Biobank, a longitudinal study of people’s health in the United Kingdom. Nearly a third of those people, who were followed for an average of 12 years, reported taking fish oil supplements regularly. In people without heart problems, regular use of fish oil supplements was associated with a 13% higher risk of atrial fibrillation and a 5% increased risk of stroke, according to the study, published Tuesday in the journal BMJ Medicine.

“Over-the-counter fish oil suffers from a lack of purity and consistency, as well as the potential contaminants and heavy metals like mercury that come with fish”, Freeman said.

“In addition, studies over the past 10 years have not been very positive for over-the-counter fish oil,” Freeman said, adding, “Fish oil either has no benefit or can actually cause harm in some cases, such as stroke and atrial fibrillation. So this is nothing new.”

The new study found that people with existing heart disease at baseline had a 15% lower risk of progressing from atrial fibrillation to a heart attack and a 9% lower risk of dying from heart failure if they took fish oil regularly.”