Fish oil London - Agencies Fish oil pills do not help protect against heart attacks or strokes, according to a study which casts doubt on their reputation as an elixir of life. Previous research has indicated that people who take pills containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids the type found in oily fish like salmon are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease. The theory is that fish oil supplements help make the blood less ‘sticky’ and lower blood pressure by relaxing vessels, thus making heart attacks and strokes less likely. However, now researchers have combined results from 20 individual studies and concluded that their findings “do not justify the use” of fish oil pills as a daily supplement. Specifically, by looking at the 20 studies, containing almost 70,000 patients, they found taking the pills was not associated with lower risk of heart attack or stroke, or lower death rates from heart problems or any other cause. Dr. Evangelos Rizos, of the University Hospital of Ioannina in Greece, said: “Our findings do not justify the use of omega-3 as a structured intervention in everyday clinical practice or guidelines supporting dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid administration.” The research is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). However, these studies looked at results in a variety of different populations. A study published two years ago found a one gram a day supplement could help extend the lives of those with heart failure, and patients who have had heart attacks are already advised to take a pill daily.