Is fish eating good for you

Epub: Jelinek et al. Association of fish consumption and omega 3 supplementation with quality of life, disability and disease activity in an international cohort of people with multiple sclerosis.Int J Neurosci. 2013.

Background: The role of fish consumption and omega 3 supplementation in multiple sclerosis is controversial, although there is some evidence to support a beneficial effect. 

Methods: We surveyed a large cohort of people with MS recruited via Web 2.0 platforms, requesting information on type of MS, relapse rates, disability, health-related quality of life, frequency of fish consumption and omega 3 supplementation, including type and dose, using validated tools where possible. 


Objective: We aimed to determine whether there was an association between fish consumption and omega 3 supplementation and quality of life, disability and disease activity for people with MS. 


Results: Univariate and multivariate analyses were undertaken. Of 2265 respondents, 1500 (66.2%) had relapsing-remitting MS; up to 1368 (91.2%) answered relevant questions. Those consuming fish more frequently and those taking omega 3 supplements had significantly better quality of life, in all domains, and less disability. For fish consumption, there was a clear dose-response relationship for these associations. There were also trends towards lower relapse rates and reduced disease activity, significant only for flaxseed oil supplementation, which was associated with over 50% lower relapse rate over the previous 12 months. 


Conclusions: Further dietary studies and randomised controlled trials of omega 3 supplementation for people with MS are required, preferably using flaxseed oil.




The survey says....eating fish is good for you.

However this is a bit of the same old same old....study done and they report a trend and further studies are needed. 

Whilst listening to some student presentations about their work there was a trend here and a trend there so this language is learned at medical school and follows on into a working life. A trend means there was NO EFFECT and the study was a dud. I wish studies were done to get a definitive answer and so things can be put to bed rather than dribble on and on and on not really telling us much.

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