May 29, 2024, Sioux Falls, SD: A new study published in BMJ (Chen et al.) suggests that fish oil supplements can be dangerous for healthy people
taking them to support their heart health. These and other findings have sparked dozens of misleading headlines in the mainstream media that the Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI) feels compelled to address in the interest of public health.
The Study
The study in question looked at incident cases of atrial fibrillation, major adverse cardiovascular events, and death, which were identified through hospital records and death registries. The goal was to determine the role of fish oil supplements in different progressive stages of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), from healthy status (primary stage) to atrial fibrillation (secondary stage), major adverse cardiovascular events (tertiary stage), and death (end stage).
For their research, investigators evaluated 415,737 people ages 40-69 years old who enrolled in the UK Biobank (UKBB) study and were free of cardiovascular disease at the start of the study in 2006.
The study authors concluded that regular fish oil supplement use among healthy individuals could pose a risk to their heart health — specifically increasing their risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke — but that it could still be beneficial for those in the progression of cardiovascular disease from atrial fibrillation to major adverse cardiovascular events. They also concluded that consuming fish is fine but taking supplements is not.
Study Conclusions Conflict with Majority of Prior Research on Fish Oil Supplements and Heart Health
According to William S. Harris, PhD, President, FARI, “Headlines around the world are blaring, ‘Fish oil supplements cause heart disease!’ which is a serious misrepresentation of, not only this specific study, but of the field at large.”
Below are some specific points of contention with this study:
- This study is in stark contrast to the body of evidence that currently exists on fish oil use showing risk reductions for heart issues — specifically atrial fibrillation, stroke, death from CVD, etc.
- Of the 6 “significant” associations with fish oil supplement (FOS) use identified in the BMJ paper, 5 were favorably associated with FOS use and 1 was not. The latter is what has recently made headlines…
- Chen et al. failed to discuss any of the previous 16 studies from the UKBB that linked fish oil use with positive outcomes, including the most relevant one by Li et al. which also focused on CVD outcomes. In Li et al., every CVD outcome (except death from stroke), including total mortality, was statistically significantly and beneficially associated with FOS use. The findings by Li et al. were from the same cohort as Chen et al. using the same exposure (FOS use or not) — also published in BMJ — and yet Chen et al. said nothing about why their results directly contradicted those of Li et al.
- Finally, self-reported FOS use is a far less objective measure of omega-3 intake and status than is actual blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids. A recent report from O’Keefe et al. in the UKBB (published in the journal Stroke) looked at the association between plasma omega-3 levels (particularly DHA) and risk for death from all causes and from CVD, cancer and remaining other causes. They found significant inverse (beneficial) associations between DHA levels and risk for all four mortality outcomes. Why did this report receive virtually no attention by either Chen et al. or the press?
FARI’s Dr. Harris believes this study will likely cause much confusion for those who consider fish oil supplements important to their heart health; it will be important to make sure they understand the full context of the pros and cons of fish oil use before they ditch their supplements.
“This new BMJ study seemingly takes omega-3 research a step back, especially given the sensational headlines it has generated,” Dr. Harris said. “The mainstream press conclusions from this study are simply overblown, disappointing and reckless. Fish oil isn’t the danger. These headlines are.”
Important Study Citations:
BMJ, May 2024, Chen et al. — https://bmjmedicine.bmj.com/content/3/1/e000451#block-system-main
Stroke, January 2024, O’Keefe et al. — https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.044281
BMJ, January 2020, Li et al. — https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m456
Media Inquiries:
Dr. Bill Harris, President, Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI)
Email: wsh@fareinst.com
Phone: +1-913-302-9433
About the Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI)
The Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI) is a non-profit research and education foundation created by William S. Harris, PhD, FASN. Dr. Harris is also the founder of OmegaQuant Analytics. FARI was founded in order to accelerate discovery of the health effects of fatty acids, most notably, the long chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. FARI researchers and scientists focus single-mindedly on publishing high-quality research studies on the multiple relationships between fatty acid levels and human (and animal) health outcomes. These studies will help improve the ability to predict risk for disease, and more importantly, suggest ways to reduce risk by changing diets and/or supplementation regimens. www.faresinst.org
About Dr. Bill Harris:
Dr. Harris has been a leading researcher in the omega-3 fatty acid field for more than 40 years. He has nearly 400 scientific papers on fatty acids and health, the vast majority on omega-3. He has been on the faculty of three medical schools (Universities of Kansas, Missouri (at Kansas City), and South Dakota), and has received 5 NIH grants to study omega-3. He was the co-author on three AHA statements on fatty acids and heart health. As the co-inventor of the Omega-3 Index (and other omega-3 blood tests) and founder of OmegaQuant Analytics, Dr. Harris has been ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide based on the impact of his research. Dr. Harris publications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1fAOCyhA-fcQV/bibliography/public/