The myth of fish oil

A spoonful for Mom: fish oil as a placebo

Denis Strigun, Naked Science

Recently, an international group of scientists has once again shown that "pharmaceutical" fish oil does not reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Doubts about the capabilities of this substance are not expressed for the first time, but the myth of its benefits is still alive.

Fish oil, along with vegetable oils, is considered the main source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These acids are weakly or not synthesized by the human body at all, so they can be obtained mainly from food. In medicine, fish oil is considered as a means of combating the depletion of the body (for example, tuberculosis) and strengthening the cardiovascular system.

The opinion about the ability of fish oil to strengthen the cardiovascular system dates back to 1973, when British scientists showed that the Inuit of Greenland, whose diet is built around fatty fish, rarely face heart attack, stroke and atherosclerosis. Therefore, fish oil, which until then was prescribed to children (for normal growth), was first interested in adults.

Studies of the following years partially confirmed the benefits of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for the aging body. In the 2000s, the US authorities officially recognized that fish oil can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, and the Canadian authorities - its importance for brain development. At the same time, the permissible dose was determined for the substance – no more than three grams per day.

However, since 2005, scientists have increasingly reported the ineffectiveness of fish oil in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Thus, experiments indicate that the possibilities of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the fight against brain aging do not exceed the resources of placebo. Soon, officials questioned the fish oil, saying that the benefits of it remain unclear.

Hemodialysis check

In a new paper (Irish et al., Effect of Fish Oil Supplementation and Aspirin Use on Arteriovenous Fistula Failure in Patients Requiring Hemodialysis A Randomized Clinical Trial – VM), scientists from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and the United Kingdom conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled study on 576 patients with chronic renal failure. The fact is that one of the most dangerous complications of this disease is vascular dysfunction, the risk of which increases hemodialysis – a method of extrarenal blood purification.

In preparation for hemodialysis, an arteriovenous fistula is created in the patient's arm, which directly connects the vein and artery. Under adverse circumstances, thrombosis may occur in the fistula, and the hemodialysis procedure itself is repeated three times a week. Therefore, patients with renal insufficiency need universal safe thrombolytics.

As part of the experiment, the authors divided the participants into three groups. The day before the creation of the fistula, the first group began taking powdered fish oil (four grams), the second – aspirin powder (100 milligrams), the third – placebo. Taking the drugs was repeated daily according to an arbitrary scheme for 12 weeks. Then, for 12 months, the scientists observed the condition of the patients.

The results showed that failures in the creation of fistula for the year affected 47 percent of patients who consumed fish oil, and 47 percent of patients who used placebo. When comparing placebo and aspirin, the figure was 43 and 45 percent, respectively. An identical number of cases of thrombosis (60-61 percent) and refusal of catheterization (39-40 percent) were observed in all groups.

Fish oil did not lead to objective or subjective improvements: the frequency of thrombosis and rejection of procedures in all groups was the same. According to the authors, this again proves the ineffectiveness of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids when it comes to the prevention of vascular diseases. However, they do not exclude that the problem lies in the method of connection delivery.

Capsules and supplements

In its pure form, fish oil has an unpleasant taste. To soften it, technologists pack the active substances that make up fish oil into gelatin capsules or biologically active additives (dietary supplements). The annual turnover of this market in the USA alone is $ 1.2 billion. Sometimes co-authors of publications about the benefits of fish oil admit to having ties with manufacturers.

However, most researchers agree that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are important for the development of the human body. In addition, there is some correlation between the systematic consumption of fatty fish and the condition of blood vessels, although whether omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are associated with this is unknown.

In other words, seafood can benefit the cardiovascular system, whereas dietary supplements or capsules with fish oil are no more effective in this matter than placebo. Obviously, one of the main beneficiaries in the legend of medicinal capsules and supplements are pharmaceutical companies. On the other hand, no one has taken away the right to autosuggestion from a person yet.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  14.02.2017