The BBC says fish oil supplements offer ‘little or no benefit’ against cancer – but is this really news?

An article on the BBC News Health pages talks about recent studies that have found fish oil supplements do not cure cancer. 

I read it with interest, but couldn’t help asking myself whether this is really news.

Supplement manufacturers should not be promising to cure any disease, let alone cancer, which has many different contributing factors including lifestyle and genetics; yet omega-3 supplements do have an important role to play as they can help people to get enough of this essential nutrient.

We live in a world where everyone wants a quick fix, whether it’s next day delivery or pre-purchased tickets that allow you to skip queues at tourist attractions. Health doesn’t work like that. Supplementation is another choice, not a replacement for exercising or steering clear of drugs, cigarettes, sugar and fat but a real opportunity to improve your wellbeing nevertheless.

After reading this article I did a little more research of my own, and couldn’t help but smile when I discovered that the same group which published the Cochrane review on omega-3 last year, have recently updated their findings to mention that increasing your intake of omega-3, slightly reduces CHD (coronary heart disease) mortality and CHD events – needless to say, this wasn’t mentioned in the BBC feature.

We’re in agreement with the principle of the article, that no reputable company should be promising instant cures to complex diseases. Yet we also pride ourselves on selling products that help our customers live better lives. That’s a promise that science-backed supplements can keep.