Researchers said in March's British Medical Journal that they failed to come up with any clear health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids commonly found in some fish and vegetable sources. Other products, such as margarine, yogurt and eggs are now enriched with omega-3 fats.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, called for more and larger studies to clear up conflicting and confusing research surrounding whether omega-3 acids help protect against cardiac problems.

"At the moment we just aren't sure, so we should be cautious," said Lee Hooper, the study's lead author and university nutrition lecturer.

'Faced with a paradox'

Hooper and her team reached their conclusions after looking at findings from nearly 90 studies that assessed the consumption of omega-3 from fish or fish-oil supplements on death, heart problems, stokes and cancer. Among their research were two major studies that did show benefits, but a recent large study failed to turn up any positives.

"We are faced with a paradox," wrote Eric Brunner, an epidemiology and public health expert at the Royal Free and University College London Medical School, in an editorial accompanying the study. "For the general public some omega-3 is good for health. Health recommendations advise increased consumption of oily fish and fish oils.

"However, industrial fishing has depleted the world's fish stocks by some 90 percent since 1950, and rising fish prices reduce affordability particularly for people with low incomes. Global production trends suggest that, although fish farming is expanding rapidly, we probably do not have a sustainable supply of omega-3 fats."

Health experts with various organizations advise people to eat fatty fish and some plant and nuts, such as olives and walnuts, to get rich amounts of omega-3 fatty acids to reduce their chances of heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends at least two meals of fish a week, with mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon providing the biggest shots of omega 3.

They said that the jury is still out on whether omega-3 can help people who haven't suffered heart disease.

'Bumper catch of red herrings'

However, panelists from the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in 2004 said that after studying omega-3, they couldn't reach definitive conclusions on benefits. In January, researchers with the Rand Corp. and Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System found that while omega-3 reduced the chances of heart disease, it failed at helping prevent cancer. To read complete story, click here.

Another study showed that people who had already suffered heart attacks and took 850 milligrams of fish oil a day reduced their chances of sudden death substantially. But scant research exists on the benefits for people who haven't suffered cardiac problems.Â

Now, Scottish salmon farmers are upset over the confusing findings, according to FishUpdate.com. The head of an organization representing salmon farmers called the British Medical Journal study a "bumper catch of red herrings."

"Promoting this new study as contradicting over 5,000 scientific papers testifying to the positive effects on health of omega-3 consumption is misleading and potentially dangerous for the nation's health," said Sid Patten, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organization. "What every reputable nutritional body and food advisor recommends is that we should eat at least one portion of oil-rich fish a week for optimum health."

Find other omega-3 articles by clicking here and here.

Source: Nubella News
Posted by: Steve Smith
Reference: British Medical Journal
Website: www.nubella.com

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