Vitamin D Fish Oil Not Beneficial for Heart or Cancer

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM New research suggests fish oil and vitamin D may not reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. One doctor who was not involved in the study commented on the new findings. [Dr. Steve Nissen, Cleveland Clinic]: “We have a very good, very big study that says neither vitamin D, nor fish oil, reduce the risk of cancer or heart disease.” More than 25,000 people, 50 and older, partook in the study over 5 years—divided into 4 groups. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM One group had 2,000 units of Vit D and 1g of fish oil daily. Another group took 2 placebo tablets. The third group took Vit D and a placebo, and the last group took fish oil and a placebo. Overall, results showed that Vit D and fish oil were not effective in preventing heart disease or cancer. [Dr. Steve Nissen/Cleveland Clinic]: “The good news is that both the fish oil and the vitamin D were safe—there was no harm— but there was also no benefit. And so, our advice to people would be not to routinely take either unless there’s a very good other reason to take these supplements.” The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.