Omega-3 fatty acid supplements, commonly referred to as fish oil tablets, have become popular with American consumers who are reportedly spending $6 billion per year on these products for a variety of perceived health benefits.
However, a new study questions whether fish oil pills like Lovaza are a waste of money, and whether omega-3 fatty acids actually can help prevent heart attacks.
A recent research study performed at McMaster University followed 12,536 patients suffering from diabetes or high blood sugar who had also previously experienced heart attacks, strokes, or other cardiovascular problems.
Patients were randomly assigned to take a gram of a purified, prescription fish oil or a placebo. The fish oil administered to patients contained the omega-3 subtypes (DHA and EPA) that many doctors say are good for heart health.
The results of this study showed that the 6,281 patients who were randomly assigned to take the fish oil did not show any change in fatal cardiovascular risks when compared to the placebo group.
In short, taking fish oil as a dietary supplement did not result in fewer strokes, heart attacks, hospitalizations for cardiovascular events, stent procedures, or a decrease in chest pain.
James Stein of the University of Wisconsin at Madison suggested that omega-3 supplements may not be strong enough to impact a clinical study.
According to Stein, a cardiovascular treatment would need to be “consistently powerful” in order to reduce a patient’s risk of heart attacks. Stein states that Omega-3 supplements “are just not that powerful.”
The dosage of omega-3 fish oil is smaller than a prescription dose of omega-3 fatty acid pills like Lovaza, which is about a four-gram dose.
Background on Prescription Lovaza
While most people buy over-the-counter versions of fish oil capsules, prescriptions of omega-3 fatty acids, which are more potent that the over-the-counter pills, are also available. In the United States, pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline sells its prescription omega-3 fatty acid pill as Lovaza.
In 2012 alone, Lovaza generated $916 million in sales. Lovaza is FDA-approved as a triglyceride-reducing treatment. While the 4 gram fish oil dosage is not approved to treat heart problems, it is regularly marketed as a heart health treatment.
In addition to questions about the supposed benefits of Lovaza and other omega-3 fatty acid products is the issue of side effects of Lovaza.
Some patients have reported experiencing serious health complications, including bleeding and subdural hematomas (a collection of blood between the layers of tissues surrounding the brain).
Subdural hematomas are a serious condition and may require immediate medical intervention.
As a pharmaceutical company, GSK has a responsibility to warn consumers about all drug risks and the company could be liable for not warning about Lovaza bleeding risks.
Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual Lovaza lawsuit or Lovaza class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, Lovaza lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.
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If you or a loved one suffered a subdural hematoma after taking Lovaza Omega-3 fatty acid, you may have a legal claim. Filing a Lovaza lawsuit could help you recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages. See if you qualify by filling out the short form below.
An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you.
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