Health
Analysis finds scant evidence of omega 3 health benefits
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 17, 2006
Little evidence of the importance of omega 3 fats to health was uncovered during an analysis of 89 studies by British researchers. Their findings were published online March 25 in the British Medical Journal. While the findings do not rule out the beneficial effects of the fats, the evidence should be reviewed regularly, they caution.
Consumption of long-chain omega 3 fatty acids found in oily fish and a shorter-chain omega 3 found in some plant oils is thought to protect against heart disease. But pooling the results of many studies produced no strong evidence that omega 3 fats have an effect on total mortality or combined cardiovascular events, said the researchers.
Despite their findings, the researchers recommend the continuation of guidelines advising the consumption of fish, because other studies have found benefits to omega 3 fats.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/04/17/hlbf0417.htm.
