The Ambiguous Benefits of Fish Oil
Jul 9, 2015 10:02:34 GMT -5
Post by shadesofgold on Jul 9, 2015 10:02:34 GMT -5
I know many of us take Omega-3 or fish oil supplements with our PNVs, so I thought I'd share this article from the Washington Post: Fish oil pills: A $1.2 billion industry built, so far, on empty promises
TL;DR exerpt:
"People in the United States spend about $1.2 billion annually for fish oil pills and related supplements even though the vast majority of research published recently in major journals provides no evidence of a health benefit.
The “accrual of high-level evidence,” according to a review of studies published last year in an American Medical Association journal, shows “that the supplements lack efficacy across a range of health outcomes.”
While the persistent popularity of fish oil may reflect the human weakness for anything touted as a life-extending elixir, it also reflects that, even among scientists, diet notions can persist even when stronger evidence emerges contradicting them. Scientists, sometimes, are reluctant to let go of ideas.
My doctor recommended I take them since I do not eat fish, so I have been since November. (To be fair, she told me I should eat the food rather than take pills, but settled for supplements.) The article focuses primarily on the claims of reduction in heart disease, rather than the conception and prenatal benefit. What has persuaded you to take or skip Omega-3 or fish oil? Thoughts on the article?
edit: formatting
TL;DR exerpt:
"People in the United States spend about $1.2 billion annually for fish oil pills and related supplements even though the vast majority of research published recently in major journals provides no evidence of a health benefit.
The “accrual of high-level evidence,” according to a review of studies published last year in an American Medical Association journal, shows “that the supplements lack efficacy across a range of health outcomes.”
While the persistent popularity of fish oil may reflect the human weakness for anything touted as a life-extending elixir, it also reflects that, even among scientists, diet notions can persist even when stronger evidence emerges contradicting them. Scientists, sometimes, are reluctant to let go of ideas.
My doctor recommended I take them since I do not eat fish, so I have been since November. (To be fair, she told me I should eat the food rather than take pills, but settled for supplements.) The article focuses primarily on the claims of reduction in heart disease, rather than the conception and prenatal benefit. What has persuaded you to take or skip Omega-3 or fish oil? Thoughts on the article?
edit: formatting
