Most fish oil supplements claim to benefit heart health without scientific backing, according to a new study. Why do experts think most people can do without them?

For years, fish oil supplements have been touted as an effective option for improving health, especially heart health. However, recent research has come to mixed results on its impact, even though some supplement brands continue to promote their products as having major health benefits.

Despite this, nearly 10% of American adults consume fish oil supplements. Now a new study has found that many fish oil brands make claims that have not been scientifically proven and that the amount of omega-3 fatty acids, the essential healthy fats found in fish oil, varies greatly from supplement to supplement. other.

What does the study say?

The research found that most fish oil supplements sold on the market make health claims that are not supported by clinical trial data.

What are the main conclusions?

In the study, researchers analyzed the labels of more than 2,800 fish oil supplements and found that 2,082 of them (nearly 74%) made at least one health claim. Of those, only 399 (19.2%) used a qualified health claim approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It should be noted that a qualified health claim means that the claim is supported by scientific evidence.