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NEW STUDY: For two years, Norwegian researchers have followed a group of elderly patients who have suffered a heart attack. Contrary to the researchers’ hypothesis, omega-3 supplements did not improve heart health. Photo: Stockphoto / NTB
Taking omega-3 supplements does not reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and death in elderly heart attack patients, a new study shows.
On the other hand, it increases the risk of heart fibrillation, the study shows.
For two years, the researchers followed a group of elderly patients, a total of 1,027, who had suffered a heart attack. Contrary to the researchers’ hypothesis, omega-3 supplements did not improve heart health.
– The study shows that omega-3 supplements do not have a positive effect on heart health in elderly patients who have suffered a heart attack. It appears that those who receive a grant have slightly more atrial fibrillation (cardiac fibrillation) than those who do not, says Harald Arnesen, professor emeritus and initiator of the eight-year study at the Center for Clinical Cardiac Research, Department of Cardiology from Oslo University Hospital Ullevål. behind.
But our study says that nothing about omega-3s can have a preventive effect in healthy people, he adds.
Arnesen still swears by a tablespoon of cod liver oil every day.
– The evidence is pretty weak that it has a health promoting effect, but I don’t think it hurts, he says.
– Do you want to discourage people from taking omega-3 supplements?
Well, it depends on the quality of the grant, but there isn’t much evidence that it really helps. It’s best to eat a lot of oily fish and not be overweight, says Arnesen.
RESEARCH TEAM: From left: Chief Physician Svein Solheim, Professor em Harald Arnesen, Professor Ingebjørg Seljeflot and Researcher / Physician Are A. Kalstad. Partner Sjur Tveit and former colleagues Kristian Laake and Peder Myhre were not present when the photo was taken. Photo: PRIVATE
After eight years of work, the Norwegian study, which includes patients from Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Akershus University Hospital, Stavanger University Hospital and Bærum Hospital, was presented digitally on Sunday at the American Heart Congress (AHA Scientific Sessions) largest in Dallas. It is also published in the renowned heart journal Circulation.
Double blind study
Half of the patients received corn oil, the rest received a medium dose of omega-3 supplements (EPA + DHA). They received 3 capsules (1.8 grams) with omega-3 corn oil or placebo daily for 2 years.
Orkla Health contributed placebo and omega-3s to the study.
– It was just a nice and positive dialogue with Orkla. They made placebo capsules with corn oil for the study and supplemented us with omega-3 capsules. So it has been a great effort on their part without interfering in any way. It was a perfect collaboration, says Arnesen.
The patients who participated in the Norwegian OMEMI (OMega-3 in Elderly with Myocardial Infarction) study were between 70 and 82 years old and had suffered a heart attack. In other words, they were in the group most vulnerable to the most heart disease.
Arnesen says the patients also used various other medications, such as blood thinners, blood pressure medications and cholesterol-lowering medications.
This is a so-called double-blind study, neither the researchers nor the participants knew who received what.
The reason why the researchers found a higher incidence of so-called atrial fibrillation is unknown, but it may be that EPA and DHA affect cell membranes and electricity in the heart muscle.
– But we scratch our heads a bit about this, says Arnesen.
LARGE STUDY: The Center for Clinical Heart Research at Oslo University Hospital Ullevål has investigated for eight years whether or not omega-3 supplements are positive for elderly patients who have suffered a heart attack. Photo: Frode Hansen
– Does not reduce the risk of heart disease
Another 2019 study that tested a particularly high dose of EPA alone (4 grams) in people with high levels of fatty triglycerides in the blood showed a significant reduction in heart disease and death after 4 years, but they also had a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation.
– But this is a drug that is approved in the US and it is not in the same class as omega-3s. supplementssays physician and researcher Peder Myhre de Ahus, who has participated in the Norwegian study which has now been published in Circulation.
It states that several recent studies have concluded that omega-3 supplements have a very limited effect on the heart.
– The bottom line is that omega-3 as a dietary supplement does not reduce the risk of heart disease.
SIDEBAR
– Dietary supplements are not to treat diseases.
Orkla Health says they are positive about the research and have contributed capsules to this independent study to contribute to further understanding of omega-3s.
– First of all, it is important for us to emphasize that dietary supplements are intended for healthy people, not for treating diseases. The study referenced here was conducted in elderly patients with an average age of 75 who have had a heart attack and are therefore not representative of healthy people, writes Gunnhild Aarstad, Head of Research, Development and innovation from Orkla Health, in an email sent through the information department.
Orkla notes that health claims for dietary supplements are approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and also apply in Norway. These claims are based on the premise that dietary supplements should be used by healthy people. Orkla writes that EFSA has approved the health claims for its dietary supplements.
Åse Andresen, a clinical nutritionist at Takeda, who is behind nycoplus and who also makes omega-3 supplements, writes in an email that the best health effect may come from eating enough oily fish, not just omega-3 supplements. But we know from Norwegian dietary surveys that only 1 in 4 of us come to this.
– The Norwegian Health Directorate still recommends supplements for all people who consume less than 200 grams of oily fish per week. Omega-3s also have other approved health claims that are not related to the heart, but also to vision and the brain, Andresen writes.
