Are fish oil supplements causing more harm to the heart than good?

Fish oil, which is derived from the tissues of oily fish, can cause first-time heart problems to otherwise healthy people. Fish oils contain omega-3 fatty and their supplements are commonly used to reduce cardiovascular risk, but a new study, published this week in BMJ Medicine, revealed that it might be doing the opposite.

Researchers analysed nearly 12 years of data from the UK Biobank studyconducted from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2010, with a follow-up until March 31, 2021.

The research involved more than 415,000 participants aged between 40 and 69 years living in the United Kingdom. Nearly one-third of the people said they regularly took fish oil supplements, and those people were more likely to be women, older, and White.

"Regular use of fish oil supplements might be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation and stroke among the general population, but could be beneficial for progression of cardiovascular disease from atrial fibrillation to major adverse cardiovascular events, and from atrial fibrillation to death," the researchers wrote in the study, which was published in The BMJ (British Medical Journal).

Fish oil was associated with a 13 per cent increased risk of atrial fibrillation as a first-time cardiac condition, as well as a 5 per cent increased risk of stroke.

Notably, the researchers also found that people with cardiovascular illness who took fish oil supplements had a 15 per cent lower chance of advancing from atrial fibrillation to a heart attack. They also had a 9 per cent lower risk of going from heart failure to death.

What is atrial fibrillation? It is an irregular (and sometimes very rapid) heart rhythm that increases the chance of suffering a stroke.

Considering the findings, the authors wrote that "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".

It is advisable that people must consult an expertor doctors before consuming any supplements.