Study busts omega-3 heart disease myths

A bombshell study has blown the lid on misleading marketing that has fooled Australians into thinking fish oils make you live longer.

Data from trials involving 112,059 participants from around the globe shows taking fish oils does little to nothing to decrease the risk of heart disease, stroke, or premature death, according to researchers from the prestigious UK-based Cochrane Library.

Yet for decades, the industry has been spruiking fish oils as a wonder capsule working miracles on your heart.

Australians have been hooked, forking out a staggering $200 million every year on omega-3 supplements.

Dietitian Melanie McGrice, of the Dietitians Association of Australia, told A Current Affair the study shows many Aussies might not be getting what they think they paid for.

“Essentially it’s telling us that we’re really wasting a lot of money … unfortunately supplements are being treated as a shortcut,” she said.

However, she said they were still beneficial for skin, hair and eyes.

“It’s also very important for fertility and pregnancy but may not be so beneficial for heart disease, so if you’re taking supplements and that’s your goal, maybe it’s pointless,” she said.

Katinka Day, head of policy and campaigns at consumer group Choice, said supplements that failed to live up to their marketing could be doing more harm than good.

“The problem is when claims aren’t based on scientific evidence, it not only means that people will spend money on products that might not work, but they’ll actually forgo treatments that do,” she said.