Latest omega 3 research

#1

This is my first post! I wander in and out of being low-carb and keto, and my 3x a week migraines stopped as soon as I started eating this way :smile:

I wanted a keto perspective on the research just out in the last couple of days, showing that omega 3 supplementation is ineffective against cardiovascular disease: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/18/omega-3-no-protection-against-heart-attack-or-strokes-say-scientists

Should we all stop supplementing with omega 3?? I try to eat fish several times a week anyway. And the supplements are kinda expensive… Or is there stuff which this research hasn’t taken into account or flaws in the research? Thanks!

(Joy) #2

I heard Nina Teicholz lump the vitamin E (not exactly Omega 3 but often spoken of together) advice in with other unproven assertions toward the end of this podcast. It was just a fleeting reference on her part, but I tend to trust her for her evidence-based news.

ETA
Teicholz discusses omega 3 specifically here:
1:19:60: Nina talks about how there is no evidence that people should consume omega three fatty acids for good health.

1:20:59: Ken mentions reports he has seen about omega 3 to omega 6 ratios having a relationship with inflammation levels. Nina discusses the research she has done on the issue.

https://www.ihmc.us/stemtalk/episode-52/

#3

Thanks for that, I’ll have a listen… All the keto books I’ve read getting into all this have all recommended using an omega 3 supplement to try to balance the omega 3:6 ratio and I spent ages researching the best one to use(!).

What does everyone else think??

(Duncan Kerridge) #4

My view has always been that it’s better to balance the 3:6 ratio by decreasing the 6 rather than trying to increase the 3 with supplements.

(Chris) #5

Well put!

supplements are so poor. If you think you need omega 3’s, eat foods known to be higher in omega 3’s like Wild Salmon. And since we know it generally is agreed that its the ratio of 3:6 that matter, Its far easier to reduce omega 6’s than it is to increase omega 3 concentrations

#6

Great, thanks everyone. I guess I’ll finish this pack of fish oil capsules and then just try to increase DHA, EPA and ALA in food.

(Omar) #7

The research is assuming using omega 3 of good quality.

I read once a report concluded that most of the omega 3 supplements are of low quality. Some even contain oxidized lipids.

So even if the omega 3 supplement has health benefit, how do we know the good supplement from the poor quality or maybe even harmful ones.

#8

Good point! I chose my using LabDoor, it was the top independently rated one and assessed for purity etc - so I think the one I use, is good quality. But what we don’t know (do we?) is what product was used in the trials (or many trials) they looked at, and whether that was good quality…

(Omar) #9

I always questioned the source of the claim that omega 3 is beneficial.

Are the Eskimo cardiovascular healthy because they ingest omega 3 or because they ingest fish?

I will only can assume that a well respected scientific institute will follow a scientific methodology Otherwise they will be wasting their resources. If they do, they will not be credible and will lose repetition. While I do not know, I only can assume that there omega 3 supplements is of known and controlled quality.

#10

So helpful, that interview with Nina - thank you!