Bad Science Claims Link Between Omega 3 Supplements and Prostate Cancer

Among the recurring arguments surrounding wellness supplements is whether they’re actually great for you or not. It is true, that numerous supplements do not have clinical evidence backing up any actual wellness advantages. The latest fat burning pills are a sound example of that. But numerous dietary supplements do have clinical proof backing up strong wellness advantages. Omega 3 fish oil is one of them and that is why it is perhaps the most widely suggested supplement by healthcare specialists.
Just recently, one study, completed by researchers at the Seattle based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and released in July 2013 in the “Journal of National Cancer Institute” concluded that higher omega 3 levels may lead to a greater occurrence of prostate cancer and that supplementing with omega 3 may actually be unhealthy. This got major play and many people got a scare since they were taking omega 3 supplements daily.
This research study has proven to be very controversial, but it hasn’t triggered that much debate per say. In truth, practically all specialists have shown significant concerns with the design of the research study and it’s conclusions. No one in the medical community (beyond perhaps the researchers who created this) analysis accepts that it has any integrity at all. For that reason, very little debate– just universal concern that such a flawed conclusion would be released in the way that it was.
The research study identified one group of men that had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and one group of men that had actually not been diagnosed. One draw of blood plasma from each man was evaluated for omega 3 levels and it was observed that the group with prostate cancer had a slightly higher level of omega 3 essential fatty acids than the group that had not been diagnosed. Based on this, researchers released their conclusions that higher levels of omega 3 may lead to higher occurrence or prostate cancer.
Here are some of the reasons this conclusion is not at all valid and why no reputable organization should even have released such an unjustified conclusion:.
• The research study was an observational study only and observation by itself can show an association, but does not establish a cause and effect. This is one of the most basic of guidelines and theory in clinical analysis yet these researchers chose to imply a cause and effect from a basic observation (which was flawed anyhow as we shall see).
• The group of men that had not been diagnosed were not actually checked for prostate cancer. There is no actual information on whether any of them were cancer free or otherwise.
• Blood plasma was made use of for the analysis rather than red blood cells. Plasma analysis only reveals short-term readings and does provide long term levels. Omega 3 levels would be elevated in blood plasma a number of hours after taking a supplement or eating fish but after Two Days would not show anything.
• Although the research study concluded omega 3 supplements may be unhealthy, no information was gathered to determine how or when it was ingested. No information to comprehend whether it was with supplements, or just eating fish.
• No information was made use of to determine various other danger factors such as obesity, age, or race. Of specific note, this information was available but researchers picked not to include it, suggesting they were attempting to make a certain association that would not have been possible had this was considered.
• The researchers did not discuss why they would conclude that higher omega 3 levels might lead to enhanced occurrence of prostate cancer but yet in countries where oily fish (a primary source of omega 3 in diet) is a staple, such as Japan, the occurrence of prostate cancer has historically been amongst the lowest worldwide.
Omega 3 fish oil has been and remains to be the target of hundreds of clinical studies, tying to develop and measure its wellness advantages– or disprove them. Numerous of these trials have been inconclusive so we actually do not comprehend all the wellness advantages they bring– or whether they bring as many as some would hope. The medical community does agree however, that generally omega 3 EFA’s benefit you and everybody requires appropriate levels for excellent wellness.
If you have any issues about using omega 3 fish oil for your wellness, talk to your healthcare service provider. Don’t be alarmed by ungrounded and thoroughly less than professional studird with no integrity.