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Omega 3's:
What's the deal?
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Good morning! Hope this communication finds you well!
So, if you're curious as what to do about Omega 3's you are not alone. That's likely because you heard about the study and you have a prostate or you're married to or close to someone that utilize one.
Before I give my 2 cents, let me share that this is only this cardiologist's opinion (not WWAD's). All of our volunteer doctors/health care personnel will likely have their own thoughts, and quite honestly, they deserve a lot better than to be represented by these words.
First, if it's a health 'supplement' I'm skeptical out of the gate. A lot of that stuff is not proven scientifically, it's not regulated, and my gut is --- they're trying to take your money. Your hard-earned $$.
Second, most people who ask us in the office are not already walking (running, biking, swimming...) 20-25 mins/day. No supplement can even begin to come close to touching what you get for walking 150 mins/week. They have a wealth of opportunity in front of them as they haven't even scratched the surface of what they could be doing to improve their health.
Stop counting and tell me what to do.
Personally, I don't think this prostate study should make you change a thing with what you're already doing. Background: study out of Washington State showed guys with highest quartile of Omega 3 PUFA's (Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids) in their blood have higher risk of prostate cancer than those in the lowest quartile. This is ONE study and there are WAY TOO MANY variables. You and I both know that 6-18 months from now another study will likely come out touting omega 3's for prostate health.
To my patients, I generally recommend
(a) eating fish 2-3 times a week (dietary form of anything is usually better than the supplement).
(b) Stay away from supplements unless you have a d**n good reason.
(c) If your doc has you on prescription omega 3's for high triglycerides, you should ask them but I wouldn't worry about it.
(d) Turn off the news (study may have been media hyped) and use that time to go for a walk with your loved one or neighbor.
At the end of the day, look at the Eskimos. The Inuit eat fish and whale fat and have an extremely low prostate cancer risk.
You are awesome. Don't spend another second concerned with this study.
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