September 27, 2012 — Examining a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta and program regular, Dr. Melina Jampolis, adamantly disagreed with the study’s finding that omega-3 supplements do not significantly contribute to heart health. Dr. Jampolis, a physician nutrition specialist, identified a string of concerning methodological flaws central to the study’s conclusion. Both Gupta and Jampolis noted that omega-3 supplements, when part of a heart-healthy lifestyle, present a variety of valuable health benefits.
Remarking on the study’s finding, Dr. Jampolis commented with concern that “major problems” existed surrounding common interpretations of the study, a meta-analysis of 20 separate studies on heart health. In most of these studies, she explained, participants had already suffered either a heart attack or an arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), and were taking omega-3 supplements as part of a “secondary prevention” strategy of avoiding future heart complications. Because these studies focused on participants whose heart health had already deteriorated from other causes, little exists to correlate these findings to even speculative assertions regarding the general populace.
Dr. Jampolis noted that omega-3 consumption is only one component of any broader effort at improving heart health. “They’re a nutrient,” said Jampolis of omega-3s. “They’re part of a heart-healthy equation. If you’re eating fast food and drinking Big Gulp sodas and eating a lot of pro-inflammatory foods, they can only do so much.”
The program segment emphasized that omega-3s contribute to heart health, but won’t cure problems created by an otherwise unhealthy lifestyle. Drs. Gupta and Jampolis recommended four essential habits to accompany supplements, such as omega-3s, in minimizing the risk of heart disease. These include maintaining a healthy weight, refraining from smoking, exercising daily, and eating recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables.
Omega-3 fatty acids, including those derived from heart healthy supplements, remain widely recognized for their anti-inflammatory benefits. Esteemed organizations, like the Mayo Clinic and the American Heart Association, recommend consuming omega-3s for their time-tested cardiac benefits.