Does eating fish really extend your life?

NHS Choices critiques tabloid claims for recent research on fishy life extension.

“…study has found that higher levels of omega-3 in blood at the start of the study were associated with a 27% reduction in risk of death from any cause, and a 35% reduction in risk of death from heart disease in healthy older adults (aged 65 years or older) who were not taking fish oil supplements.”

Not all fish are created equal

There are, the NHS site says, “several limitations.” For instance, omega-3 fatty acid levels were only measured at the start of the study and may not have remained steady. Moreover, cause of death may have been misclassified and there is the strong possibility that other factors may be responsible for the measured life extension.

One extra thought, just because there might have been benefits to the older generation, doesn’t mean they will necessarily apply to the next. Given that it’s not so long ago that there were warnings to avoid some types of oily fish because of global mercury contamination, it’s probably best to proceed with caution. Everything in moderation, as ever.

Does eating fish really extend your life? – Health News – NHS Choices.