Why fish oil supplement benefits aren’t as great as you think

Despite the benefits that companies have touted and spent billions of dollars on, experts are warning Americans to be wary of fish oil supplements. Fish oil supplements aren’t as great as you think.

Research suggests that most fish oil supplements, long touted to promote heart, joint, eye, and skin health, make health claims that are not supported by science.

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSMC) in Dallas examined nearly 3,000 fish oil supplements, and three-quarters of them made at least one health claim.

Approximately 80% were found to be misleading to customers, making broad claims such as “supporting heart health” that no scientific evidence could prove to be true.

Researchers have found that consuming too much fish oil, an industry worth $2.3 billion globally, can actually increase the risk of heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation and arrhythmia, which can lead to stroke and heart failure. even suggested.

Experts told DailyMail.com that not all fish oil supplements are “created equal” and that the lack of scientific basis for their claims creates a “confusing” situation for consumers. He said he was there.

“About one in five Americans over the age of 60 takes fish oil supplements, many of which have been shown to have heart benefits,” said Dr. Anne-Marie Navre, a cardiologist at UTSMC and lead author of the study. It’s because I’m thinking about it.”

“However, extensive research has shown that for most people, taking commercial fish oil supplements has no cardiovascular benefit and may even increase the risk of atrial fibrillation at high doses.”

The study analyzed 2,819 fish oil supplement labels obtained from the National Institutes of Health’s Dietary Supplement Database, which catalogs all information printed on the labels of dietary supplements sold in the United States. . Of those surveyed, 2,082 people made at least one health claim.

Approximately 80% of supplements that made health claims used structure/function claims that broadly described health benefits, such as “promotes heart health.” They cannot be proven by research or regulated by authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A structure/function claim simply refers to how a substance affects the structure and function of the body, such as “Calcium helps build strong bones.” There should be a disclaimer stating that the substance is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These claims are unregulated, unmonitored, and scientifically unwarranted.

However, health claims specifically refer to how a nutrient or ingredient affects a disease or health condition. These types of claims are “authorized” and “certified,” meaning that there is significant scientific consensus based on health information or that they are supported by a significant amount of evidence.

“Structure/function claims are permitted by the FDA, but can be vague and misleading,” Dr. Navar said. “And they are produced as fish oil for many organ systems, including the heart, brain, joints, eyes, and immune system.

“We feel that this type of language can be very confusing to consumers who do not know that these statements do not require support from randomized trials.”

Carolyn Williams, a registered dietitian in Alabama who was not involved in the study, called structure-function claims “wild west” and said they were misleading to consumers.

“I’m so confused,” she told DailyMail.com.

It can be said to “boost immunity,” “improve brain health,” and “enhance heart health.” They are all things that are practically impossible to measure. And for some reason, if you are a manufacturer and express it as a structure/function display, you can pretty much say whatever you want. ”

In addition to identifying these claims, the researchers also compared the amounts of two important omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in 255 supplements.

They have been shown to lower levels of fats called triglycerides in some patients, which may lower blood pressure. It has also been shown to support immune function and proper fetal development.

EPA and DHA are primarily found in fatty fish and algae such as salmon, herring, sardines, mackerel, trout, some oysters, shrimp, tuna, and lobster.

The recommended daily intake to lower blood pressure is 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams.

However, only 1 in 10 of the supplements studied met these EPA and DHA levels.

“Not all fish oils are created equal,” Williams says.

“You really want that big part [dosage] They are EPA and DHA.

“Fish oil supplements that contain little or no EPA or DHA don’t really live up to the claims they make.”

Ms. Williams added that an ideal fish oil supplement should contain 60 percent EPA and 40 percent DHA.

“The vast majority of Americans don’t get enough EPA and DHA,” she said.

“Supplement labels can be confusing to even the most knowledgeable consumers,” said study co-author Joanna Asadourian, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine.

“Patients should talk to their doctor about what supplements they are taking and why they are taking them. They may not be getting the health benefits they think they are. You might be surprised to learn that it isn’t.”

The study was published last month in the journal JAMA Cardiology.