Existing Patients Have Protective Effects
"Healthy People May Not Benefit"
"Research Needed to Clarify Mechanism"
A study has found that omega-3, known for preventing cardiovascular diseases, may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke when consumed by healthy individuals. However, it showed a certain level of protective effect for those who already had poor cardiovascular health.
The international medical journal BMJ Medicine announced on the 22nd (local time) the joint research results of a collaborative team from Washington University in St. Louis, the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital in the UK, Aalborg University in Denmark, Sun Yat-sen University in China, and Peking Union Medical College. This study was conducted with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The research team tracked medical record data over approximately 12 years, from 2010 to March 2021, using data from 415,737 participants aged 40 to 69 from the UK Biobank. Among the participants, 31.5% regularly took fish oil supplements such as omega-3.
Omega-3 is a fatty acid containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). It has been known to reduce cholesterol and improve blood circulation, but clear scientific evidence has not been established. Debate over the efficacy of omega-3 continues to this day.
Tracking participant data, the research team found that the group regularly taking omega-3 supplements had a 13% higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation and a 5% higher risk of stroke compared to the group that did not. Even after adjusting for variables such as age, gender, smoking, and hypertension, regular omega-3 intake showed a strong association with heart disease and stroke.
However, omega-3 does not only have side effects. For patients with existing cardiovascular disease, regular omega-3 intake reduced the risk of progression from atrial fibrillation to heart attack by 15% and the risk of progression to heart failure by 9%. In other words, healthy individuals may face risks of side effects from omega-3 intake, but it may be beneficial for patients with vulnerable cardiovascular systems.
The research team explained, "Regular consumption of omega-3 supplements may not produce the same effects in healthy individuals excluding those with underlying conditions," and added, "Further research is needed to clarify the exact mechanisms." They also noted a limitation that most participants in the study were white, so the findings may not apply to other races.
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