Millions of German swallow in vain: The sad truth about fish oil capsules

Fish oil capsules with Omega-3 fatty acids to keep the heart and brain healthy. Many promise themselves protection from heart attack and stroke – and take the small yellow capsules on a daily basis. Researchers are skeptical, because studies show that The advertising of many manufacturers promise are exaggerated.

Vitamin C effervescent tablet, Magnesium powder, Iodine in capsules: Almost every German has at least one dietary Supplement at home in the closet. In the year, we spend 1.1 billion euros for the purchase of approximately 165 million packs of. The products are supposed to make us healthier, fitter and more beautiful. The demand is increasing.

Alone, fish oil capsules, enjoy millions of popularity. They contain Omega-3 fatty acids. Taken daily, capsules containing 250 milligrams of Omega-3-fatty acids to normal brain function, eyesight and heart function. Capsules with two to three grams affect the cholesterol and Triglyceride levels in the blood, and the blood pressure.

Advertising promises are often exaggerated

These statements have been scientifically proven, manufacturers are allowed to advertise. "The permitted health claims, however, are often amplified or übertrieben", warns the consumer and gives the following example: function “ad” contribute to a normal heart effectively “possess protective properties for a healthy heart”.

Especially on the Internet many dubious manufacturers draw the bow further: So you promise that your fish oil capsules prior to breast cancer, heart attack or stroke, protect, or in the case of joint pain help. The small capsules can cure any diseases.

No protection against heart attack and stroke

Scientific studies show that fish-oil-capsules the miracle that many of them expect. So researchers at the University of Oxford had investigated whether the daily intake can prevent capsules up to two grams of Omega-3 fatty acids heart attack or stroke. For this, they evaluated data from almost 80,000 women and men and no connection discovered.

The study appeared in the March 2018 in the journal "JAMA Cardiology". Louise Bowman, also of Oxford University, had specially capsules the effects of fish oil on diabetics researched. At the Congress of the European society of cardiology in Munich, you delivered the end of August, a similar picture as their colleagues: The dietary Supplement had not been able to reduce the risk for heart attacks, strokes or cancer.

Bowman and her Team had examined about 15,000 of diabetics. Half of them had daily fish oil capsules with one gram of Omega-3 fatty acids taken orally, the control group had a Placebo containing olive oil capsules. The researchers had accompanied the test subjects, on average, for seven years, and in the end no difference between the fish oil and the Placebo in order to determine capsules. “We have tried to find any effect, but found nothing,” says Bowman.

Omega-3-fatty acids in foods

Omega-3 fatty acids are vital for our body. They play a major role as a source of energy and inflammatory reactions. Our body can not produce itself and must, therefore, absorb about the food – but it works very well. A lack of Omega-3 fatty acids is extremely rare, says the Federal Institute for risk assessment. It is found in many foods and are stored in the fat tissue of a healthy adult.

The following foods contain lots of Omega-3:

• Sea fish such as mackerel, herring, tuna, salmon
• Micro-algae
• vegetable Oils such as linseed oil, rapeseed oil, walnut oil
• Nuts
• green leaf salad

An additional Omega-3 intake through fish oil capsules, most people do not need. Should you take the capsules only on the recommendation of a physician. Lightly, you should deal with fish oil capsules. The majority of packs carry a warning that consumers should not exceed a quantity of five grams per day. Otherwise, Nausea and vomiting threaten. An Overdose can also change the flow properties of blood and thus the risk of dangerous bleeding increase, warns the consumer. In addition, unwanted interactions with other drugs are possible.