Do omega-3 supplements prevent heart attacks and strokes in older adults?

What we’ve found so far suggests that for older adults who are otherwise healthy, adding omega-3 supplements to their daily routine doesn’t appear to provide a clear protective effect against major heart events. This doesn’t mean omega-3s are useless — it just means, in this group and over this time frame, the evidence doesn’t show a reduction in these specific outcomes. The studies reviewed focused on prevention in people without existing heart disease, so the results don’t apply to those already diagnosed or at high risk.

We don’t know why the same conclusion appears in two separate assertions — it may reflect overlapping data or different ways of framing the same findings. Either way, the pattern is consistent: no benefit was observed in the populations studied.

If you’re an older adult without heart disease and considering omega-3s for heart protection, the evidence we’ve reviewed so far suggests it’s unlikely to make a meaningful difference in preventing heart attacks or strokes. That doesn’t mean you should stop taking them if you feel better or your doctor recommends them for other reasons — it just means heart protection isn’t something this supplement reliably delivers in healthy older adults.