The 2.3billion dollar a year con: Why fish oil supplement benefits aren’t as great as you think

• A study found most fish oil supplements make unfounded health claims 
• Experts believe this creates a ‘confusing’ landscape for consumers 

READ MORE: TikTokers claim their anxiety was ‘cured’ after taking supplements

By EMILY JOSHU HEALTH REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Despite the benefits companies tout and the billions of dollars spent, experts warn Americans to be wary of fish oil supplements: they’re not as great as you may think.

Most fish oil supplements, which have long been touted for boosting heart, joint, eye, and skin health, make health claims that science doesn’t back up, a study suggests. 

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSMC) in Dallas looked at nearly 3,000 fish oil supplements, three-quarters of which made at least one health claim. 

They found about 80 percent made broad claims like ‘support heart health’ that scientific evidence cannot prove true, making them misleading to customers.  

The researchers even suggested taking too much fish oil, an industry worth $2.3 billion globally, could actually increase the risk of heart issues like atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat, which could lead to stroke and heart failure.

Experts told DailyMail.com that not all fish oil supplements ‘are created equal,’ and the lack of a scientific foundation to their claims creates a ‘confusing’ landscape for consumers.

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSMC) found about 80 percent of fish oil supplements made broad claims like ‘support heart health’ that scientific evidence does not support, making them misleading to customers