Diet is an important aspect of life and we should not underestimate its importance in our well-being. Having a healthy and balanced diet allows us to reduce the risk of various types of diseases.
However, even normally healthy nutrients can have dark sides, especially if we take in excess of them. Researchers continue to study the impact that diet has on our body, also to understand what it means to take too much or too little of each nutrient.
Today in particular we are focusing on a substance that has been analyzed by some American researchers. It is a healthy nutrient but its excess could sometimes lead to a potentially serious side effect.
Fatty acids that are good for you
The study we are investigating today focused on fish oil consumption and was carried out involving more than 80,000 patients. The goal was to relate the intake of fish oil supplements, rich in omega 3 fatty acids, with atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart do not move effectively and is a relatively common disorder. It wouldn’t be immediately lethal, but it could increase the risk of heart failure or stroke over time.
Typically, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil would be good for the heart, but omega-3s taken in capsule form could increase the risk of atrial fibrillation, according to this study.
It is a healthy nutrient but its excess could lead to a potentially serious heart problem
The study followed the participants for five years, tracking the doses of fish oil consumed via supplements. The results indicated a possible reaction between supplements and atrial fibrillation, in particular they emphasized the importance of doses.
Those taking less than one gram or less of fish oil per day were 12 percent more likely to develop atrial fibrillation than those taking a placebo. Participants who took more than one gram of supplements a day saw the likelihood increase by 49%.
The researchers then commented on the results, urging them not to stop taking supplements in any case, unless after a discussion with their doctor. Also, they invite you to get tested if you start feeling symptoms such as a fast heart rate or dizziness.
Deepening
Redness, itching, and high blood counts could signal an excess of this particular vitamin