Omega-3 Supplements Do Not Reduce Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease Among The Elderly

Older people who took part in a five-year U.S. clinical trial testing the impact of omega-3 supplementation for age-related macular degeneration did not show a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The supplements contained, besides omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils, the dietary xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin, found in green leafy vegetables and in the macula of the human eye. The data showed no significant cardiovascular benefit among older individuals treated with either omega-3 supplements or with a combination of lutein plus zeaxanthin. The results are consistent with mounting evidence from clinical trials, the researchers said.