The purpose of the report was to review previous scientific studies and trials in order to establish
what risks and benefits omega 3 fatty acids have on mortality, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
The researchers looked at 89 different previous trials, conducted up to February 2003. Of those 89
trials, only 12 were used as the basis for their conclusions about fish and heart risks. Of these,
researchers found 10 were positive and two were either only slightly negative or neutral.
The report concluded that it was not clear whether omega 3 fatty acids reduce or increase mortality,
cardiovascular events, cancer or strokes. The report was unable to find clear-cut evidence of benefit
from reduction of risk from heart disease.
The report included a study on one large trial of over 3,000 men, already diagnosed with angina. By
including this trial as one of the 12 chosen studies on fish and heart disease, the results may have been
biased.
The findings did not rule out an important effect of omega 3 on total mortality and the report actually
states that UK guidelines and advice on eating oil-rich fish should remain.
The research contradicts almost all of the thousands of published studies on the subject this huge
body of scientific evidence reinforces the health benefits of including oil-rich fish such as herring and
sardines, as a regular part of the diet.
Source: Seafish - 3rd April 2006