Omega-3 fatty acid supplements from fish, plants or both show no significant benefit.

There is growing interest in the possibility of reducing the risk of heart disease by supplementing with fish-based omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) or plant-derived alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Using a multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 4837 older men with heart disease, researchers found during an almost four year follow-up that none of the supplements from fish or plants showed any significant advantage over the placebo.

PositiveTip: Including adequate plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids from dietary sources (nuts, vegetable oils) will not hurt you, but they are probably not a magic bullet for preventing heart disease.