People who spend money on fish oil supplements believing it will prevent heart attacks or stroke need to believe in something else.
The latest review of 10 randomized clinical trials found that people with cardiovascular disease received no significant benefits from taking omega-3 fatty acids supplements.
Public health expert Dr Ken Harvey, an associate professor at Monash University’s School of Public Health, says he’s not surprised.
“For the average person who hasn’t got heart disease and is perhaps being seduced by the advertisements that suggest fish oil is great for preventing things, there really is no good evidence.”
Dr Harvey goes on to say fish oil is fairly harmless, so some doctors may still advise people who are at high risk to continue taking the capsules.
Experts say the best way to get those healthy omega-3 fats is to go directly to the source and that you should be eating two to three servings of fish per week.
Fish with the highest levels of omega-3 include salmon, blue-eye trevalla, blue mackerel, herring and canned sardines.
Sharon Reardon, KABC News
