{"id":59,"date":"2013-01-16T23:43:50","date_gmt":"2013-01-17T06:43:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/?p=59"},"modified":"2023-11-08T14:31:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T21:31:13","slug":"something-fishy-about-fish-oil-supplements","status":"publish","type":"newsletters","link":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/newsletters\/something-fishy-about-fish-oil-supplements\/","title":{"rendered":"Something Fishy about Fish Oil Supplements?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Eating fish has long been associated with many positive health outcomes. More recently, fish oil supplements have become a popular way for individuals to try to take advantage of some of these health benefits. Past research has generally been supportive, but the newly released results of a few large studies are calling this practice into question.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Origin Study<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The ORIGIN study – a randomized clinical trial investigating cardiovascular outcomes \u2013 followed 12,536 individuals for over six years and found little significant differences between those that supplemented with fish oils and those that did not. A few months later a meta-analysis<\/a> of twenty randomized trials (nearly 70,000 participants in total!) similarly found no cardiovascular benefits of fish oil supplementation. Researchers here concluded that the findings \u201cdo not justify the use of omega-3 as a structured intervention in everyday clinical practice or guidelines supporting dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid administration\u201d.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cochrane Review<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Previous research had also linked fish oils with different markers of brain-health, which makes sense because DHA (a type of omega-3 that is rich in fish oils) is the most prominent fatty acid in the brain\u2014especially in key regions responsible for memory, language, and thinking. The Cochrane Review<\/a>, however, examined randomized controlled trials with a total of 3,536 participants and found no significant difference in brain function between those that supplemented with fish oils and those that did not.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Magic Bullet?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

So should you toss all those fish oil capsules into the garbage? Probably not, but you might want to more carefully consider their cost in relation to potential benefits. Though fish oils are still associated with a reduced risk for a number of negative health conditions this recent research is quite strong, and tells us that fish oils may not be the magic bullet that many previously thought.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Eating Whole Fish<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What we do know is that eating fish\u2014the whole fish\u2014is certainly a good thing. Despite the best efforts of science to put nutrients into pill form we continue to find that we can\u2019t quite match Mother Nature\u2014at least when it comes to wholesome, nutritious food. In addition to their healthy oils, whole fish is also a good source of lean protein, vitamin D, selenium and probably a number of beneficial compounds we have yet to identify. The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of fish each week\u2014preferably fish high in omega-3s such as mackerel, salmon, trout, and tuna.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Choosing Your Fish<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When choosing your fish consider using one of the guides available to help make sure your fish is nutritious, safe, and sustainably harvested. Fish are not immune to the pollutants in our environment, and some fish are contaminated with heavy metals (mercury), chemicals (PCB\u2019s) and pesticides (DDT). The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch and Environmental Defense Fund Seafood Selector are both great guides.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Wild-caught Alaskan Salmon is a great choice and one of my personal favorites. The following is my go-to recipe for salmon:<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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