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.
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!You probably should switch to taking just omega-3s. Omega-6s act as an inflammatory agent in our bodies - omega-3s act as an anti-inflammatory agent. One of the big problems with our modern diet is that most of the oils we eat (e.g., vegetable) are high in omega-6s so the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is out of whack. The optimum ratio of 6s to 3s is thought to be 1:1 (some say 4:1). Our diets are more like 20:1. This might be why we see an increase in the incidence of inflammatory disease.
Nah. I dropped mine from 238 to 189 in a couple of months by mildly moderating my fat intake and taking 3 suppliments:
fish oil, red rice yeast, and garlic (once a day for each).
The real question is, how much will I benefit from this drop?
If you believe it's helping you, you are getting a psychological benefit aren't you?
"and plasma triglyceride levels."
If true that's good for me, as I have rather high triglycerides, putting me at risk for pancreatitis, as well as a less-than-optimal balance of HDL and LDL.
The link between high trigylcerides and pancreatitis is fairly well established, but I remain doubtful about the rest of the "lipid hypothesis." There's so much politics and inertia in the medical community, especially when it involves so-called lifestyle diseases like heart disease, that it's hard to know who or what to believe.
I'm grinding flax seeds, cooking with whole wheat and olive oil or cold processed, expeller pressed canola.
The description of how the supposedly healthy oils like regularly processed vegetable, corn and even canola oil are made to be stable enough to sit on your shelf for 6 months without refrigeration and without spoiling was enough to swear me off of them for ever.
I've never felt better or eaten better tasting food. The author's testimony of how she was cured of MS by this diet was the first I had heard of the healing properties of fish oil.
The most simple and effeective way you can lower triglycerides is exercise and reducing intake of sugar. Exercise isn't too difficult. Cutting down substantially on suger has been a bitch for me. Much more so than lowering fat intake.
After years of "NO FAT!" or "NO CARBS!" we've come to "good fat and good carbs."
I want to know who funded this study.
Probably the corn syrup and beef industries. ;)
Regards, Ivan
How did you know?? :D
The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural. :)
Regards, Ivan
"LOL, just stay away from Swordfish, Shark and Tuna...aren't they the ones with the high mercury level?"
I eat a can of tuna everyday. I don't feel any effects, although I'm very good at guessing temperatures.
BUMP!
LOL!
Nordic is excellent!
The supplement I take has ~ 1500 mg of Omega-3 and 500mg of Omega-6. A 3:1 ratio. Are you suggesting this could be harmful even in the 3:1 ratio?
Thanks!
I stand in line at the local meat and fish markets and watch the people with low incomes buy custom cut steaks and the biggest fillets with their WIC cards. The only one whose affordability is reduced seems to be me.
Careful, this stuff is just a "natural" statin - which has been shown to lower Coenzyme Q10 - which is not good.
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