Heart Health
The false promise of fish oil supplements
Despite what the labels say, there's no evidence that these amber capsules will improve your cardiovascular health — and they may even harm it.
- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Millions of Americans — including one in five people over age 60 — take fish oil supplements, often assuming the capsules help stave off heart disease. Who can blame them? After all, the product labels say things like "promotes heart health" and "supports healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels."
"People will often say 'I don't like eating fish, but I know it's good for me. So I'm taking this supplement instead,'" says Preston Mason, a faculty member in the Cardiovascular Division at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital who studies the unique fats found in fish oil, known as omega-3 fatty acids.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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