A supplement widely purchased in Poland increases the risk of stroke in healthy people
- In healthy people, fish oil supplements can be harmful – they increase the risk of atrial fibrillation by 13 percent and stroke by 5 percent.
- For people with heart disease, fish oil can help - it reduces the risk of serious heart events (e.g. heart attack) by 8-15 percent and reduces the risk of death from heart failure by 9 percent.
- Fish oil supplementation is not unequivocally beneficial - its effects depend on the user's health condition and the course of cardiovascular diseases.
- Scientists recommend caution and further research - they emphasize that the best source of healthy fatty acids is still oily fish such as salmon, mackerel or herring.
The BMJ Medicine journal published the results of a study conducted by scientists from the United Kingdom. The results of this study indicate that regular use of fish oil supplements may have a variety of effects on the course of cardiovascular disease , including serious complications. It turns out that regular use of fish oil may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
What did the study show?The study, conducted by Biobank UK, involved over 415,000 participants aged 40-69. The researchers who conducted the study monitored the health of the participants for almost 12 years.
In people without previous cardiovascular disease:
- Regular fish oil consumption was associated with a 13 percent higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
- A small increase in the risk of stroke (5%) was also observed.
In people already diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases:
- Fish oil had a protective effect, reducing the risk of progression from atrial fibrillation to more serious cardiac events, such as heart attack, by 8-15 percent.
- It also reduced the risk of heart failure progressing to death by 9 percent.
- For healthy individuals: Fish oil supplements may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke, suggesting caution in use by people without previous heart problems.
- For people with heart disease: regular use of fish oil may provide benefits by reducing the risk of further deterioration of health and mortality.
Scientists argue that fish oil is not a clear-cut benefit for everyone. It may increase the risk of certain diseases in healthy people, but it may improve the health of those who already have cardiovascular problems. As they point out, more research is needed to understand exactly how fish oil works on the different stages of heart disease development.
- For healthy individuals: Taking fish oil supplements may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke.
- For people with existing cardiovascular disease: Regular use of fish oil may be beneficial by reducing the risk of disease progression.
You don't have to swallow capsules to take care of your heart and brain. Instead of fish oil supplements, it's worth opting for natural sources of omega-3 acids. You'll find the most valuable fats in oily sea fish, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, or herring. Just 2-3 portions a week will cover your DHA and EPA needs - without the risk of overdosing that supplements carry.
Walnuts, flax seeds and chia seeds are also a good addition to the diet, although they mainly contain ALA - the plant equivalent of omega-3. Experts emphasize: it is better to eat fish than to swallow pills. It is a natural, tasty and safer solution for health.
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