India, July 3 -- Over-the-counter omega-3 supplements provide essential fatty acids that offer the greatest health benefits and help prevent disease. However, new research from the University of East Anglia and the Cochrane Library shows that omega-3 supplements do not protect against cancer. In fact, they may slightly increase the chances of developing cancer. Most of the evidence on omega-3 comes from studies on fish oil supplements, according to Harvard Health.

The research team examined 47 trials involving adults who did not have cancer, those at higher risk of cancer, and those with a previous cancer diagnosis. They also reviewed 86 trials on heart-related events or deaths. In these reviews, more than 100,000 participants were rando...