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Fish Oil Supplements Worthless, Maybe Harmful

by Robin Nixon on 04/08/15

The NYT reported last week that taking fish oil supplements does not help stave off cardiovascular concerns and in some cases can even be harmful (i.e. taking fish pills and aspirin or blood thinners simultaneously.) Fish oil pills were reported to be third most popular food supplement, after only vitamins and minerals! This popularity is based largely on some early studies that have not since been backed up.

The studies showing that eating fish, real fish, are still compelling, so ditch the pill and have some lox.

This is usually the landing point, several years after there is some craze about some nutrient. Suddenly, instead of eating the food (or going outside in the case of Vitamin D), we are taking a pill. (The antioxidant craze also jumps to mind.)

Pills are concentrated forms of one exact substance and likely don't provide the whole beneficial effect of eating a whole food.

The best part of the NYT article:

"Like many cardiologists, Dr. Stein encourages his patients to avoid fish oil supplements and focus instead on eating fatty fish at least twice a week, in line with federal guidelines on safe fish intake, because fish contains a variety of healthful nutrients other than just EPA and DHA."