Experts say fish oil supplements offer ‘little or no’ benefit against cancer

The consumption of omega-3 supplements has long been believed to have a wide range of positive health impacts, including lowering the risk of strokes, as well as diseases such as dementia and cancer.

However, researchers at University of Anglia (UEA) have found that the taking of daily supplements is likely to have no significant positive impact on a person’s health.

The study related specifically to the consumption of supplements, rather than deriving omega-3 from eating fish, which experts still suggest is beneficial to the heart as well as to general health.

During the research, over 100,000 participants were randomly selected to either take more omega-3 fats in supplement form, or to continue their usual intake, for at least 12 months.

The study found that if 1,000 people took supplements for around four years, the actual effects on their health, whether positive or negative, would be at best minimal.

Dr Lee Hooper of the UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said the study, which was funded by the World Health Organisation, contributed to increasing evidence that omega-3 supplements are failing to offer consumers the benefits they promote.

Dr Hooper went on to say “Our previous research has shown that long-chain omega 3 supplements, including fish oils, do not protect against conditions such as anxiety, depression, stroke, diabetes or death.

“In fact, we found that they may very slightly increase cancer risk, particularly for prostate cancer.”

He added that, with the harmful environmental factors associated with over-fishing, it would seem “unhelpful” for people to continue consuming supplements which gave “little or no benefit.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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