Fish oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which support brain and heart health but conflicting evidence exists regarding their ability to prevent heart disease for those not at higher risk.
Further studies needed to explore precise mechanisms and impact of dose and formulation on cardiovascular disease risk.
New study links fish oil supplements to increased risk of Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke for healthy individuals by 13% and 5% respectively.
Regular intake of fish oil supplements may increase risk for those with no known cardiovascular disease.
Study involved over 400,000 participants from the UK Biobank followed for an average of 12 years.
In recent news, a study published in the journal BMJ Medicine has raised concerns about the use of fish oil supplements for those with no known cardiovascular disease. The research suggests that regular intake of these supplements may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation and having a stroke by 13% and 5%, respectively. However, for individuals with pre-existing heart conditions, fish oil supplementation was linked to a lower risk of progressing to more severe heart problems.
The study involved over 400,000 participants from the UK Biobank who were followed for an average of 12 years. Among this group, nearly one-third reported regularly using fish oil supplements. The researchers noted that further studies are needed to explore the precise mechanisms behind these findings and determine how dose and formulation of the supplements may impact cardiovascular disease risk.
It is important to remember that fish oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to support brain and heart health. However, conflicting evidence exists regarding their ability to prevent heart disease for those not at higher risk. The NHS does not currently recommend taking fish oil supplements as a preventative measure.
The American Heart Association and Tufts University also advise that individuals focus on consuming a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products to maintain heart health. For those who choose to take fish oil supplements for other reasons or due to specific health conditions, it is crucial to consult with a healthcare professional first.
The findings from this study should not deter individuals from consuming fish as part of a balanced diet. Oily fish like salmon and mackerel are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids and offer numerous health benefits when consumed in moderation.
Study finds that fish oil supplements may increase the risk of heart conditions and stroke for those with no known cardiovascular disease.
,
Accuracy
For those with no known cardiovascular disease at start of monitoring period, regular use of fish oil supplements was associated with a 13% heightened risk of developing atrial fibrillation and a 5% heightened risk of having a stroke.
Regular use of fish oil supplements might increase the risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke for the first time.
Deception
(70%)
The author makes editorializing statements by expressing her opinion that the findings of the study 'shouldn't be concerning to people who regularly take fish oil supplements,' and 'it's also not a green light to start taking them to prevent heart and circulatory diseases.' These statements are not factual, but rather her interpretation of the study results.
The author expresses her opinion that the findings 'shouldn't be concerning to people who regularly take fish oil supplements,'
The author states that 'it's also not a green light to start taking them to prevent heart and circulatory diseases.'
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. It also presents a dichotomous depiction of the results of the study.
. . . fish oil supplements were associated with a 13% heightened risk of developing atrial fibrillation and a 5% heightened risk of having a stroke.
This research shouldn’t be concerning to people who regularly take fish oil supplements, but it’s also not a green light to start taking them to prevent heart and circulatory diseases.
Given that most of the participants were white, the findings might not be applicable to people of other ethnicities.
Study involving over 415,000 people in the UK Biobank found that those with no history of heart disease who regularly took fish oil supplements had a 13% higher risk of atrial fibrillation and a 5% greater risk of stroke.
For people with a history of heart disease, regular fish oil supplementation was linked to a 15% lower risk of progressing to more severe heart problems.
Accuracy
Regular use of fish oil supplements might increase the risk of first-time heart disease and stroke among those in good cardiovascular health.
For those with no known cardiovascular disease at the start of monitoring period, regular use of fish oil supplements was associated with a 13% heightened risk of developing atrial fibrillation and a 5% heightened risk of having a stroke.
Deception
(30%)
The article makes several statements that could be considered deceptive or misleading. First, the title implies that fish oil supplements are dangerous for everyone's heart, but the study only found an increased risk of atrial fibrillation for people without a history of heart disease. Second, the article states that 'Studies on the benefits of fish oil, and fish oil supplements, haven’t been as conclusive when it comes to actually preventing heart disease for people who aren’t at higher risk.' However, it then goes on to discuss a specific study that found an increased risk of atrial fibrillation for people taking fish oil supplements. This statement is misleading because the article does not mention that the study only applied to people without a history of heart disease. Third, the article states that 'The structure of the study may also explain some of the difference in results between the people who did not have a history of heart problems and those that did.' However, it does not provide any evidence or reasoning to support this claim. Lastly, the article makes several statements about fish oil supplements without disclosing that they are coming from experts who were not involved in the study.
The article states 'Studies on the benefits of fish oil, and fish oil supplements, haven’t been as conclusive when it comes to actually preventing heart disease for people who aren’t at higher risk.' but then discusses a study that found an increased risk of atrial fibrillation for people taking fish oil supplements without mentioning that the study only applied to people without a history of heart disease.
The title implies that fish oil supplements are dangerous for everyone's heart.
The article states 'The structure of the study may also explain some of the difference in results between the people who did not have a history of heart problems and those that did.' but does not provide any evidence or reasoning to support this claim.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to authority when quoting Dr. Alice Lichtenstein and Dr. JoAnn Manson, but this is not a fallacy as they are experts in their field and their opinions are relevant to the topic of the article. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating 'Most people are familiar with the best things to eat for a healthy heart: vegetables, low-fat dairy, and lean proteins like fish.' This is not a fallacy as it is an opinion expressed by the author. However, the author does make an error in stating that 'Studies on the benefits of fish oil, and fish oil supplements, haven’t been as conclusive when it comes to actually preventing heart disease for people who aren’t at higher risk.' This statement is not entirely accurate as there have been studies that suggest a link between fish oil supplements and a reduced risk of heart disease in otherwise healthy individuals. For example, the 2018 randomized control trial mentioned in the article found that fish oil supplements were linked to a 28% lower risk of heart attacks and an overall 17% reduced risk of all heart disease events. Therefore, while the author's statement is not a fallacy, it is misleading.
'Studies on the benefits of fish oil, and fish oil supplements, haven’t been as conclusive when it comes to actually preventing heart disease for people who aren’t at higher risk.'
Bias
(80%)
The author expresses a negative view towards fish oil supplements and their potential risks for heart health, particularly the increased risk of atrial fibrillation. She quotes studies that suggest this risk and mentions that the American Heart Association does not recommend fish oil supplements for preventing heart disease.
But for people with a higher likelihood of heart problems, the risk of atrial fibrillation is counterbalanced by the potential anti-inflammatory, anti-clotting, and triglyceride-lowering benefits of omega-3 fats.
For them, as previous studies have shown, regular fish oil supplementation was linked to a 15% lower risk of progressing to more severe heart problems
The American Heart Association does not recommend fish oil supplements to prevent heart disease.
The latest, published in BMJ, researchers report that people with no history of heart problems who regularly took fish oil supplements actually increased their risk of atrial fibrillation.
The study, published in BMJ Medicine, suggests that regular use of fish oil supplements might increase the risk of first-time heart disease and stroke among those in good cardiovascular health.
130,365 participants (31.5%) said they regularly used fish oil supplements.
Among those with no known cardiovascular disease at the start of the monitoring period, regular use of fish oil supplements was associated with a 13% heightened risk of developing atrial fibrillation and a 5% heightened risk of having a stroke.
Regular use of fish oil supplements had different roles in the progression of cardiovascular disease. 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.
Accuracy
Regular use of fish oil supplements is associated with a 13% higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation for those with no history of cardiovascular disease.
Regular use of fish oil supplements is linked to a 5% elevated risk of having a stroke for those with no history of cardiovascular disease.
Deception
(30%)
The author makes editorializing statements by suggesting that 'Regular use of fish oil supplements might increase rather than lessen the risk of first-time heart disease and stroke among those in good cardiovascular health.' This statement goes beyond reporting the findings of the study and implies a negative opinion about fish oil supplements. The author also uses emotional manipulation by implying fear to readers about the potential risks of using fish oil supplements.
Regular use of fish oil supplements might increase rather than lessen the risk of first-time heart disease and stroke among those in good cardiovascular health,
But the evidence on how much protection it affords is inconclusive,
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains a few informal fallacies and an appeal to authority. It states that regular use of fish oil supplements might increase the risk of first-time heart disease and stroke among those in good cardiovascular health, but this is based on observational data and no conclusions can be drawn about causal factors. The authors mention 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.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Regular use of fish oil supplements might increase—rather than lessen—the risk of first-time heart disease and stroke among those in good cardiovascular health, but may slow progression of existing poor cardiovascular health and lower the risk of death
As this is an observational study, no conclusions can be drawn about causal factors
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.
Cod liver oil, a type of fish oil containing vitamins A and D, has been used for generations for its purported health benefits.
Accuracy
New study suggests cod liver oil may increase risk of stroke and heart problems for healthy adults.
Study found that among those with established heart disease, taking cod liver oil pills was associated with a lower risk of heart attacks and other cardiac problems.
Regular use of fish oil supplements was linked to a 5% greater risk of stroke and a 13% higher risk of irregular heart rhythm among those without cardiac problems.
Deception
(30%)
The article makes selective reporting of the study results by focusing on the increased risks for healthy individuals without mentioning the protective effects for those with established heart disease. This creates a sensationalized and misleading impression that cod liver oil is bad for health in general.
Among those without cardiac problems, taking the supplements was linked to a 5 per cent greater risk of stroke, and a 13 per cent higher risk of developing an irregular heart rhythm.
Cod liver oil may be bad for your health, a new study suggests.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to authority by stating that the NHS does not recommend taking fish oil supplements due to a lack of evidence. However, she fails to acknowledge that the study discussed in the article also did not prove causation and had limitations. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating 'Revealed: How cod liver oil could be bad for your health' which is sensationalist and misleading.
The NHS does not recommend taking such supplements, saying there is too little evidence to support their use.
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.
Bias
(80%)
The author uses language that depicts fish oil supplements as harmful to those with healthy hearts, yet offering protection when disease is established. This could be seen as a bias towards portraying the supplements in a negative light for those without heart disease.
However, among those with established heart disease, taking the pills was associated with a significantly lower risk of heart attacks and other cardiac problems.
Regular use of fish oil supplements might have different roles in the progression of cardiovascular disease.
A new UK study finds that regular use of fish oil supplements might increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat, and a stroke for the first time for those with no history of cardiovascular disease.
Regular use of fish oil supplements is linked to a 15% lower risk of atrial fibrillation progressing to a heart attack and a 9% lower risk of dying after heart failure for those with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.
Accuracy
A new UK study finds that regular use of fish oil supplements might increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation for the first time.
For those with no known cardiovascular disease at start of monitoring period, regular use of fish oil supplements was associated with a 13% heightened risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
Regular use of fish oil supplements is linked to a 5% elevated risk of having a stroke for those with no history of cardiovascular disease.
Deception
(30%)
The author uses sensationalist language in the title and body of the article to grab the reader's attention. The title implies that fish oil supplements definitively increase heart disease and stroke risk, but the body of the article reveals that there are both positive and negative effects associated with their use. This is selective reporting, as it only reports details that support a particular position (in this case, the negative one). Additionally, the author makes no attempt to disclose sources for any of the information presented in the article.
Fish oil supplements may increase heart disease, stroke risk: study
Regular use of fish oil supplements might be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation and stroke among the general population.
The supplements were linked to a 13% higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation – an irregular heartbeat – and a 5% elevated risk of having a stroke for those who had no history of cardiovascular disease.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author commits the following fallacies: Dichotomous Depiction by stating that fish oil supplements might increase the risk of heart disease and stroke for first-time occurrences but also might slow the progression of existing cardiovascular health problems and lower the risk of death. This creates a false dichotomy as it suggests that there are only two possible outcomes when in reality, there may be more. The author also uses Inflammatory Rhetoric by stating 'Time to scale back?' which implies a sense of urgency and fear without providing sufficient evidence.
Time to scale back?
Regular use of fish oil supplements might be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation and stroke among the general population.
