Fish oil supplements offer ‘little or no benefit' to health, study finds

New research might make you think twice about taking fish oil supplements as part of your daily healthcare routine.

A new study has found that taking fish oil supplements is likely to have no significant impact on health - despite previous claims that it could lower the risk of cancer, heart disease and dementia.

The research - which was carried out by the University of Anglia (UEA) - studied 100,000 participants, who were asked to consume more omega-3 fats in supplement form or maintain their usual intake for at least a year.

Results found that if 1,000 people took supplements for approximately four years, the effects on their health (both positively or negatively) would be minimal.

Dr Lee Hooper - from UEA's Norwich Medical School - says the research is important because it adds to the growing evidence that omega-3 supplements are failing to do what they advertise.

He said, "Our previous research has shown that long-chain omega 3 supplements, including fish oils, do not protect against conditions such as anxiety, depression, stroke, diabetes or death.

"In fact, we found that they may very slightly increase cancer risk, particularly for prostate cancer."

This study - which was funded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) - follows more than 80 studies in 2019 which found no evidence that omega-3 offers health benefits to those with type 2 diabetes. Further studies last year also suggested that supplements offer little to no protection against heart disease.

Dr Hooper added that with growing environmental concerns surrounding the fishing industry, it seems "unhelpful" for people to continue taking supplements that give "little or no benefit" to health.

However, it’s worth pointing out that this study directly refers to supplements, rather than the omega-3 which comes from eating actual fish.

The NHS advises that people should eat two portions of fish per week - including one serving of oily fish, such as salmon, fresh tuna or mackerel, in order to consume enough "good" fats.