Fish Oil Supplements May Not Always Reduce Stroke, Heart Disease Risk; Regular Supplementation Could Elevate Likelihood For Some People [STUDY]

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While fish oil has been known to be good for the heart, a new study suggests that this may not always be the case.

In fact, according to this study, fish oil supplements may even elevate the risk of heart disease and stroke for some people.

Fish Oil Supplements

Several studies have revealed that fish consumption is linked to a reduced death risk due to stroke and heart disease. However, it is not conclusive whether such ebenefits may also be seen through fish oil consumption.

Nevertheless, around one in every 13 American adults consume fish oil supplements semi-regularly. This is based on surveys of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

Fish oil supplement side effects have historically been considered quite mild, with effects including stomach issues, headaches, and bad breath. However, a new study shows that regular supplementation may actually be elevating the risk of what it was supposed to prevent.

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Elevating Stroke, Heart Disease Risk

The study, entitled "Regular use of fish oil supplements and course of cardiovascular diseases: prospective cohort study," examined data from 415,737 participants in the UK. The participants were aged 40- to 69-years-old. Almost a third of them had regular fish oil supplementation.

Across an average monitoring period of 12 years, participants who did not have any known cardiovascular disease when the study started and regularly took supplementation had a 13% higher risk of having atrial fibrillation. This is a condition that heightens stroke risk and leads to abnormal heart rhythm.

Such individuals also had a 5% higher likelihood of developing a stroke. This was in comparison to those who did not take the fish oil supplements.

However, among participants who already had cardiovascular disease prior to the study period, the supplements were linked to a 15% lesser likelihood of progressing to a heart attack from atrial fibrillation. This was also linked to a 9% lower risk of heart failure progression to death.

Further analysis focused on nonsmokers and women who did not have any heart health issues when the study started and who regularly took the supplements. They were found to have a higher risk of suffering heart failure, stroke, and heart attacks by the study period's end.

In contrast, older participants and men had a higher likelihood of seeing the supplements' protective effects.

It is important to note, however, that the study had a purely observational nature. This means that the findings do not denote any causal links.

Moreover, though the researchers factored in some confounding variables, such as age and fish consumption, it is possible that other confounding variables could exist.

The researchers also did not have any access to data regarding fish oil supplement doses and formulations.

Nevertheless, according to Deepak Bhatt, a professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and director of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, the study supports growing evidence that it is not suitable and necessary for the general population to take fish oil supplements.

Bhatt explains that higher doses of omega-3 fatty acid preparation prescriptions have revealed a slightly higher risk for atrial fibrillation. Hence, studies do not encourage healthy individuals to take these supplements, despite how popular and common the practice is.

According to the study authors, further study is necessary to see if such supplements may causally impact the prognosis and development of cardiovascular disease.