Popular supplement linked to higher heart and stroke risk in UK study

A new British study suggests that fish oil, a home therapy staple for generations, may heighten the risks of heart issues. Fish oil, inherently concentrated with Omega 3 fatty acids, is widely believed to boost brain function, heart health, and gut wellness.

However, long-term research indicates that regular consumption of fish oil supplements could enhance an individual's risk of succumbing to heart disease or experiencing a stroke. Nevertheless, for those already diagnosed with cardiovascular issues, consistent intake of fish oil might help decelerate the advancement of these illnesses.

"Regular use of fish oil supplements might be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation and stroke among the general population," said the authors of the study in their findings, published in BMJ Medicine last Tuesday. The research incorporated 415,737 participants (comprising 55% women) aged between 40-69 years from the UK Biobank a vast reservoir of data on the diets, habits and health conditions of thousands of Britons.

The participants were surveyed between 2006 and 2010, gathering basic demographic details, inclusive of ordinary dietary intakes related to oily, non-oily fish and fish oil supplements, reports the Mirror US. The research evaluated the potential impact of these supplements on the risk progression from good heart health to atrial fibrillation, leading to major cardiovascular events like heart attacks and, ultimately, death.

Participants were divided and their health was monitored until March 2021 or until their death, using data from medical records. Almost a third (130,365; 31.5%) of the participants reported regular use of fish oil supplements. This group had higher proportions of older white individuals and women.

The researchers observed that the group consuming more oily fish and alcohol also had fewer current smokers and residents in deprived areas. The results suggested that regular use of fish oil supplements played varying roles in cardiovascular health, disease progression and death.

For those with no known cardiovascular disease at the start of the monitoring period, regular use of fish oil supplements was associated with a 13% heightened risk of developing atrial fibrillation and a 5% heightened risk of having a stroke, according to a press release by the research team.

However, among those who had cardiovascular disease at the start of the monitoring period, regular use of fish oil supplements was associated with a 15% lower risk of progressing from atrial fibrillation to a heart attack and a 9% lower risk of progressing from heart failure to death. Digging deeper into the analysis, it was unveiled that various factors such as age, sex, smoking habits, intake of non-oily fish, high blood pressure, and the use of statins and blood pressure-lowering medicines heighten the risk for heart diseases, alongside the consumption of fish oil.

A recent study has associated regular ingestion of fish oil supplements with a 6% heightened risk of severe cardiovascular incidents among women and individuals who don't smoke. In contrast, men consuming the same supplements saw the mortality rates decrease by 7%.

The group conducting this observational study clarified that, given the character of their research, it isn't possible to firmly establish the cause and effect. Moreover, they highlighted the absence of data related to the dosage or formulation of supplements taken by those involved in the study.

However, despite these limitations, the researchers said: "Regular use of fish oil supplements might have different roles in the progression of cardiovascular disease. Further studies are needed to determine the precise mechanisms for the development and prognosis of cardiovascular disease events with regular use of fish oil supplements."