A fishy business: omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease

The use of omega-3 fatty acids and other supplements as opposed to a healthy diet to prevent cardiovascular disease is controversial and the effects beyond current drugs are disputed. There has always been a tendency in medicine to take a lifestyle-related risk protective factor and try to bottle it for convenience and commercial advantage. The most famous instance is the vast use of anti-oxidant vitamins as opposed to eating fruit and vegetables which are known to be associated with reduced rates of cardiovascular disease (1,2).