MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferers who take omega-3 fish oil supplements may be wasting their time.
Scientists in Norway found no evidence that the capsules had any effect on progression of the disease, which affects 10,500 people in Scotland.
Some MS patients take omega-3 fatty acids in the belief they might protect their brain neurons from further damage. Researchers studied 92 patients, half of whom were given omega-3 supplements and half a "dummy" placebo. After six months all the patients received beta inferferon injections, a standard MS treatment.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans were used to measure disease activity.
The findings, published in the journal Archives of Neurology, contrasted with two other studies which reported a possible beneficial effect.
The study found there was no evidence omega-3 supplements were harmful to MS patients.
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