NORWICH, England, March 24 (UPI) -- British researchers found eating fish, or taking fish body oil capsules, may not cut the risk of dying of heart disease, stroke or cancer.
University of East Anglia researchers analyzed 48 randomized control trials and 41 "cohort" studies of fish body oils. The randomized control trials compare the effects of fish oil capsules with a placebo, while cohort studies compare groups with high intakes of fish oil against those with low intakes, the Times of London reported Friday.
The analysis, published in the British Medical Journal online, indicates that despite a lot of work and a multiplicity of trials, it is difficult to show clear benefits from eating more fish, or fish body oils, that contain omega 3 fatty acids.
Other analyses have shown benefits.
"The web of lifestyle, interest in health and social factors seen in the cohort studies included in our review provides an advantage to people taking most omega 3 fats and this makes adequate adjustment for confounding difficult, if not impossible," say the researchers.
