Posted on 03/24/2006 4:21:27 AM PST by MadIvan
Claims that oily fish is good for people's health are not backed by strong evidence, experts have said.
Researchers studied the effects of omega 3 fats on death rates, heart disease and cancer and found there was no evidence of a "clear benefit" of omega 3 fats on health.
In a study published in the British Medical Journal, scientists were keen to point out that the importance of omega 3's should not be ruled out. But they warned that the evidence about potential benefits should be regularly reviewed.
Omega 3 fats are found in oily fish such as mackerel and fresh tuna, supplements and some plant oils. They have been widely regarded as beneficial for health, with health experts recommending that people eat more of them.
In the BMJ report, researchers analysed 89 studies to assess the effects of omega 3 fats on different outcomes for health.
Pooling the results showed no strong evidence that omega 3's had an effect on total deaths, heart attacks, heart disease, cancer or strokes.
The researchers concluded that it is actually unclear whether omega 3's reduce or increase total death rates, heart attacks and disease, cancer, or strokes.
In an accompanying BMJ editorial, Eric Brunner, said: "Health recommendations advise increased consumption of oily fish and fish oils, within limits, on the grounds that intake is generally low.
"However, industrial fishing has depleted the world's fish stocks by some 90% since 1950, and rising fish prices reduce affordability particularly for people with low incomes."
Other studies have found that omega 3's have a positive effect on health. Earlier this week, a study found that the fats helped stop the spread of prostate cancer to other parts of the body.
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That I couldn't say. But it has been shown to reduce cholesterol significantly. How it gets there is ?
It sure did wonders for Barry Bonds.
Sorry, but my rallying cry is "No Postage For Oily Fish!"
Good catch - I missed that on my first reading!
Didn't even bother to study mental health, it's a fact Omega-3s are better for your brain than Omega-6. Hence why they say fish is brain food.
I take a natural supplement (Nature's Way) Omega 3-6-9 that is in a "perfect ratio". Does it work? Who knows but I'm here posting away!
how expensive?
I don't actually have an opinion about oily fish either: I just have an automatic reaction to this cholesterol stuff when I see it :0)
Cholesterol levels are a measurable proxy indicator. Unfortunately Cholesterol levels don't actually correlate to health and wellness, making their use as proxy indicators of health worthless. Their ease of measurement does pay large dividends to statin manufacturers though. It's a classic marketing ploy: fix on a proxy indicator, convince people that it is a true measure of health and then treat it. People can then see their "health" improve, when in fact all that is changing is a proxy indicator.
Some interesting facts:
More than 60% of all heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels.
The majority of people with high cholesterol never suffer heart attacks.
Half of all heart attack victims have none of the standard risk factors (i.e., smoking, obesity, genetics, or high cholesterol).
The real solution to heart disease is to halt the causes of arterial inflammation. One cause is homocysteine, a harmless acid-like waste product that forms when you eat red meat and other protein foods. Homocysteine is quickly broken down by certain B vitamins, so that it isn’t usually a problem. But if a person isn’t getting enough of these B vitamins (either due to thyroid supression or diet deficiency), then homocysteine builds up to dangerous levels and “burns” the delicate tissue of the artery walls. Plaque is then formed at the site of this inflammation as the body attempts to heal the damage. This plaque build up is dangerous, causing narrowing of the arteries.
Studies show that a high level of homocysteine is one of the most dangerous risk factors for heart disease. It increases a person’s risk of heart attack by three times.
The answer to heart disease is not statins, nor is it anti-inflammatory drugs. The answer is solving the B-vitamin deficiency. This is usually due to an underactive thyroid gland which inhibits the absorption of B vitamins and therefore causes homocysteine levels to skyrocket.
Correcting the thyroid function in patients enables homocysteine levels to normalize on their own — without any need for extra vitamin intake.
As to what causes thyroid supression in the first place: well, I'm out of my comfort zone here. Some qualified Freeper could chip in, perhaps.
Disclaimer: for brevity (hey I'm on my lunch break!) most text I have used above was lifted from pages at this location. This is a semi-commercial vitamin supplement site but contains a lot of collated, free data for interested browsers.
You're never going to take away my pacific salmon.
Flax seed oil high in Omega 6 which the body has a tough time converting to Omega 3 where as Fish oil (from pure sources) has a more readily 'assimilable' Omega 3..according to the advertising anyway...Flax also doesn't have DHA and EPA omega-3s, only ALA. DHA and EPA are what the body needs. ALA can be converted by the body to DHA and EPA, but not very efficiently. If you are taking fish oil, there is no need to take flax.
Unfortunately "experts" are adding king mackerel as well.
What a wonderful quote! I never heard it before -- can't think why it's not more widely known (unless the experts are suppressing it?).
I read about a study a number of years ago tracking large groups of men with high cholesterol: one group was the control, and one or more groups brought down their cholesterol by diet, exercise, etc.
The men who stuck to the methods recommended brought down their cholesterol all right, but the death rate didn't go down; the increase in murder, suicide and accident brought them even with the control group.
And I think they have computed something like 85% of the cholesterl in your body gets made... in your very own liver.
So if you stop eating everything, your cholesterol would only drop 15%. Then, you'd die.
Cholesterol really has been given a bad rap. The real situation is as you describe, "IF you have these other bad conditions, AND you have high LDL cholesterol, then MAYBE you might be at a much higher risk of coronary or other health problems".
The real solution is probably to pick parents with better genetic make-up.
PS: I have heard one of the most common causes of hypothyroidism is not enough potassium.
Yes, I agree on the homocysteine connection. My father harped on it for years. Interestingly, most insurance (HMOs) will not pay for homocysteine testing.
However, it was pointed out to me by one doctor, that folic acid suppliments are effective in influencing homocysteine levels. His attitude was don't worry about the test, just take folic acid.
As regards inflamation, my cardiologist told me that it is now suspected that blockage in the arteries may be due to episodes of inflamation. He said that they just don't know. But he does feel that keeping one's cholesterol within reasonable limits is a good idea.
One other thought. The statin lovers rarely point out that regular, moderate exercise is proven effective in lowering cholesterol and triglycerides.
Isn't the total death rate 100%? If Omega 3s increase that, hey, pass me the bacon and put some butter on the side.
/sarcasm, I think.
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