People who eat more fish or other sources of omega-3s don’t seem to have much lower risk of heart disease, according to this review of many studies.
Scientific Claim
Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from diet show a non-significant 7% reduction in coronary disease risk (RR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.84–1.02) when comparing highest to lowest intake thirds.
Original Statement
“In observational studies, relative risks for coronary disease were ... 0.93 (CI, 0.84 to 1.02) for long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated ... when the top and bottom thirds of baseline dietary fatty acid intake were compared.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The claim accurately reflects the non-significant result and avoids implying benefit. The language matches the observational nature of the data.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Association of dietary, circulating, and supplement fatty acids with coronary risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This big study looked at lots of people and found that eating more omega-3 fats from food might slightly lower heart disease risk, but not enough to be sure it’s a real effect — which is exactly what the claim says.