Despite the benefits touted by companies and the billions of dollars spent, experts warn Americans to be wary of fish oil supplements: They’re not as effective as you might think.
Most fish oil supplements, which have long been touted for improving heart, joint, eye and skin health, make health claims that science does not support, a study suggests.
Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSMC) at Dallas examined nearly 3,000 fish oil supplements, three-quarters of which contained at least one health claim.
They found that about 80% of them made general claims such as “supporting heart health,” which scientific evidence cannot prove, making them misleading to customers.
Researchers have even suggested that excessive consumption of fish oil, a $2.3 billion industry globally, may actually increase the risk of heart problems like atrial fibrillation or irregular heartbeat, which can lead to stroke and heart failure.
Experts told DailyMail.com that not all fish oil supplements “are created equal” and that the lack of scientific basis for their claims creates a “confusing” landscape for consumers.
Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSMC) found that about 80% of fish oil supplements make broad claims such as “supporting heart health,” which scientific evidence does not support. which makes them misleading to customers.
About 80 percent of supplements that made a health claim used structure/function claims, which generally describe a health effect, such as “improves heart health.” These cannot be proven by studies or regulated by authorities like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Dr. Ann Marie Navr, cardiologist at UTSMC and lead author of the study, said: “About one in five Americans over the age of 60 take fish oil supplements, often because they believe it help his heart.
“But extensive research has shown that for most people, taking over-the-counter fish oil supplements provides no cardiovascular benefits and that in large doses they may even increase the risk of atrial fibrillation.”
The study analyzed 2,819 fish oil supplement labels obtained from the National Institutes of Health Dietary Supplement Database, which lists all information printed on the labels of dietary supplements sold in the United States . Among the people studied, 2,082 made at least one health claim.
About 80 percent of supplements that made a health claim used structure/function claims, which generally describe a health effect, such as “improves heart health.” These cannot be proven by studies or regulated by authorities like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A structure/function claim simply refers to how a substance affects the structure and/or function of the body, for example “calcium helps create strong bones.” It is necessary to have a disclaimer stating that the substance is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These claims are neither regulated, nor monitored, nor scientifically substantiated.
However, a health claim specifically refers to the impact of a nutrient or ingredient on a disease or health condition. These types of claims are “authorized” and “qualified,” meaning they have significant scientific agreement based on health information or are supported by substantial amounts of evidence.
Carolyn Williams, a registered dietitian in Alabama, told DailyMail.com that structure and function claims on fish oil supplement labels are “very confusing.”
“Structure/function claims are allowed by the FDA, but they can be vague and misleading,” Dr. Navar said. “And they are made from fish oil intended for many organ systems, including the heart, brain, joints, eyes and immune system.”
“We think this type of language can be very confusing to consumers who may be unaware that these claims do not need to be supported by randomized trials.”
Carolyn Williams, a registered dietitian in Alabama who was not involved in the study, called the structure/function claims “wild west” and said they were misleading to consumers.
“It’s very confusing,” she told DailyMail.com.
“You can say ‘boosts immunity’, ‘improves brain health’, ‘improves heart health’. These are all things that are truly impossible to measure. And for some reason you can say pretty much whatever you want if you’re a manufacturer and you’ve phrased it as a structure/function claim.
In addition to identifying these claims, the researchers also compared the amount of two key omega-3 fatty acids in 255 of the supplements: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
These have been shown to reduce levels of fats called triglycerides in some patients, which could lower blood pressure. They have also been shown to support immune function and healthy fetal development.
EPA and DHA are mainly found in fatty fish such as salmon, herring, sardines, mackerel, trout, some oysters, shrimp, tuna and lobster, as well as in algae.
The recommended daily amount to lower blood pressure is 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams.
However, only one in ten supplements studied achieved these levels of EPA and DHA.
“Not all fish oils are equal,” Ms. Williams said.
“You really want the majority of that (dosage) to be EPA and DHA.
“Fish oil supplements that contain little or no EPA or DHA really cannot live up to the claims they make for them.”
Ms Williams added that the ideal fish oil supplement should contain 60 per cent EPA and 40 per cent DHA.
“The majority of Americans simply don’t get enough EPA and DHA,” she said.
Joanna Assadourian, study co-author and fourth-year medical student at UT Southwestern, said, “Supplement labels can be confusing to even the most savvy consumers. »
“Patients should talk to their doctor about the supplements they are taking and why they are taking them. They may be surprised to learn that they are not getting the health benefits they think.”
The study was published last month in the journal JAMA Cardiology.
