Regular use of fish oil supplements may not be the best idea for people in good cardiovascular shape, a new study suggests. For them, taking the supplements may increase rather than decrease the risk of first-time heart disease and stroke.
The study included more than 400,000 adults who filled out dietary surveys and were tracked for an average of 12 years. Healthy participants who regularly took fish oil supplements were 133% more likely to develop atrial fibrillation and 5% more likely to suffer a stroke, according to the results.
However, among those who had heart disease at the start, supplementation significantly lowered the odds of progressing from atrial fibrillation to heart attack and from heart failure to death. The authors say these findings show regular use of fish oil supplements might have different roles in the progression of cardiovascular disease.
The American Heart Association only recommends Omega-3s from fish and supplements for people with heart disease.
