Truth
Dietary supplements based on omega-3 fatty acids are recommended for the heart and blood vessels and students in the block also like them, for better concentration. However, scientific research shows that these preparations can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), and therefore the risk of stroke. The European Medicines Agency issued a warning to doctors and the public.
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Omega 3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that can have a beneficial effect on blood lipids. They are found mainly in fish, but can also be found in walnuts, and in some vegetables, including spinach. Several studies have been done on the beneficial effect it may have on blood fat and therefore on the heart and blood vessels, but they contradict each other. But omega 3 is sold as supplements that are said to benefit the heart and blood vessels. There are various omega-3 fatty acids, including ethyl esters, such as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).
In the current issue of the Journal of Medicine and Healthcare (May 2024), the Belgian Center for Pharmacotherapeutic Information (BCFI) warns about the disadvantages of omega-3 fatty acids. The authors say that the so-called beneficial effects for the heart and blood vessels are uncertain, and 5 large controlled studies have been published in the last 5 years that clearly show that omega-3 preparations increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is a rhythm disorder that you don’t usually feel, but which increases the risk of stroke. That risk is higher with 4 g omega 3 per day. On average, fish oil products contain about 400 mg of omega 3 per capsule, but taking several capsules a day, and eating fish or nuts, which are also sources of omega 3, can be too much.
The independent body of Belgian medicines (BCFI) refers in its article and on its website to an earlier warning from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) from 2023. It asked warn health care providers and the public about the risk of omega 3 products: Atrial fibrillation is a common side effect (in 1 to 10%). Based on this information, the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAGG) also sent a message to the world that the public must be warned about omega-3 fatty acids based on ethyl esters. The question is to what extent this message has reached people. As soon as we published the news on the Health and Science website, we received many responses. People completely fell by the wayside and started taking omega 3 en masse for cardiovascular health. The manufacturers of these supplements are not required to include the warning and, as far as we could determine, they did not. The supplements are usually low doses, which is fine, but you can also get omega 3 through food. Of course, there is no substitute for omega 3 supplements, and the benefits are still not sufficiently proven, but there are disadvantages.
The more strictly regulated medicines containing the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA must include the warning ‘increases the risk of atrial fibrillation’ in the package leaflet, but does not nutritional supplements. However, according to the BCFI, the warning should apply to all types of omega 3.
Where
Preparations based on omega-3 fatty acids, including the famous fish oil capsules, can increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially when taken in high doses, and that you also eat fish and other products with omega-3, such as walnuts and spinach. Medicines containing omega 3 must include an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the package label, under frequent effects. Dietary products escape from this dance and are still sold as ‘beneficial for the heart and blood vessels’, which is not proven enough. The BCFI, an independent organization that distributes drug information to doctors, advocates caution on all omega-3 preparations.
2024-05-13 01:00:00
#FACT #CHECK #omega #harmful #heart
