Omega-3 supplements are well-known for their blood-thinning properties, which can help prevent cardiac events. However, research shows that supplements have little to no influence on the risk of heart disease, according to several studies.

A new body of evidence has raised concerns about the pill’s safety at greater doses. High-dose omega-3 supplements, according to the research, could raise the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) by up to 50%.

Patients taking greater doses may be at risk for AF, according to the findings of the study, which were published in the journal Circulation.

Seven large-scale randomised clinical trials of marine omega-3s were included in the meta-analysis.

Four of the studies looked at modest dosages of marine omega-3s, while the other three looked at high amounts.

More than 81,000 people took part in the trials, which found that omega-3s increased the incidence of AF by 1.25 times.

According to the authors of the study, “the trials had tested lower doses and, individuals, they did not show a significant increase in AF.

“In high-dose trials, there was a 49 percent – 50 percent risk. In a dose-response gradient analysis, for each one-gram increase in the dose of the omega-3s, there was an 11 percent increase in the risk for AF – a strongly significant interaction.”

The study also discovered evidence that larger omega-3 doses were linked to a nine percent lower risk of cardiovascular events.

More research is needed to determine the risks of taking omega-3 supplements, how they differ depending on the form or amount, and how they fit into the benefit-risk ratio.

There is widespread agreement that omega-3 fatty acids do not protect against stroke, which has been validated by all but one study.

Researchers wondered if the lack of omega-3 benefits for stroke risk could be explained by the relationship between AF and stroke.

According to the health organization Stroke, having AF increases the risk of stroke by five times.

It comes as a recent study claims that AF rates have reached an all-time high, with a 72 percent increase in the last two decades.

The prevalence of AF now outnumbers the four most frequent cancers, according to the findings.

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation, said that detection measures needed to be improved in order for more patients to benefit from anti-clotting medications.

“The sheer rise in the number of people now living with AF is staggering, and yet on top of this, many more people will be unaware that they also have this hidden stroke risk in their heart.”

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and plant-based protein sources like beans should all be emphasized in any heart-healthy diet, but data suggests potassium-rich foods have additional benefits in the prevention of AF.

WebMD says: “Research shows that if your blood is low in potassium, you are at higher risk for AF.”

Dipping the head in cold water stimulates the vagal nerve, which causes the heart to slow down.

Deep breathing, acupuncture, and magnesium supplements have all been shown to be beneficial to the heart.

Image Credit: Getty

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