Several studies and news claim fish oil can create a positive impact on heart health, which can be found in two sources, seafood and supplement. Yet, some believed fish oil does not have any impact on the heart. Here are the facts and myths about it.
Fish oil is a great source of omega-3 fatty acid - which is associated with a reduced risk of heart attacks. These are unsaturated fatty acids that could decrease levels of triglyceride in the blood and could slow down the build-up of plaque in the arteries.
However, taking fish oil supplements do not have the same protective effect. In a 2018 meta-analysis of ten trials, researchers couldn't find any heart health benefits when a person is taking fish oil supplement. The research team suggests that the body could easily absorb nutrients from foods, compared to nutrients brought by the pill. The study was published in the JAMA Cardiology journal.
Foods, like salmon, could offer more benefits aside from omega-3s. It comes with protein, potassium, B vitamins, and more, said registered dietitian nutritionist Sarah Koszyk. She explained that when a person is taking the supplement, the body only gets specific nutrients. Furthermore, the body process supplements in a different way than real foods.
But, another study on that same year has found that a 25 percent drop in the risk of heart attacks and other cardiac events when a person is taking fish oil supplements. The result has two possible explanations.
First, the study involved a very specific group of high-risk patients who were also on statins. Thus, the benefit doesn't necessarily apply to the general public. Second, the study didn't use a regular fish oil supplement, instead, it used a prescription pill called Vascepa which has highly purified EPA.
Additionally, one of the major issues with over-the-counter supplements is that they do not require approval from the Food and Drug Administration, making it "less guarantee of purity and precise dosing."
In conclusion, fish oil supplements do offer heart health benefits, but only for a specific group. Take them if your doctor prescribed them to you, but these golden pills may simply be a waste of money if you're not part of the specific group.
Instead, get your omega-3s from food sources such as flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds, sardines, mackerel, salmon, and more. Marion Nestle, Ph.D., from New York University, recommends healthful eating patterns like the Mediterranean diet rather than taking supplements.
