| Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI recently | | | | The researchers suggested that "reducing time |
| published the results of a survey concerning omega-3 | | | | barriers associated with dietary counseling should be |
| fatty acids and primary care physicians. Specifically, | | | | explored further to increase recommendation of this |
| this survey looked at how frequently primary care | | | | important advice." |
| physicians in Washington State prescribed omega-3 | | | | Other Barriers... |
| fatty acids fish oil health supplements. | | | | ...in January of 2006, researchers at the University of |
| Only 17% of the responding physicians were | | | | Massachusetts Medical School wrote, "Physicians face |
| identified as "high fish prescribers". Since fish oil | | | | several barriers to counseling their patients about |
| supplements are readily available and a "prescription" | | | | nutrition, including conflicting evidence of the benefit |
| is not necessary, it may be that physicians feel it is | | | | of counseling, limited training and understanding of the |
| not necessary to recommend omega-3s to patients. | | | | topic, and imperfect and varied guidelines to follow." |
| But, other factors may be at play. | | | | Numerous studies have confirmed the health benefits |
| Time, Time, Time... | | | | of omega-3 fatty acids and primary care physicians |
| The majority of the physicians surveyed agreed that | | | | should be aware of these benefits, but since (as with |
| proper nutrition is important in the prevention of | | | | practically everything in medicine) there are conflicting |
| heart disease and that patients should be advised | | | | opinions about omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil health |
| about dietary considerations. A little more than half | | | | supplements and dietary consumption of fish, the |
| recognized the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids, | | | | topic can be confusing. There are no clear-cut rules |
| fish oil health supplements or simply adding fish to the | | | | about how much is too much, or about how little is |
| diet in "secondary prevention" of heart disease. So, | | | | effective. |
| why is it that fish oil is not frequently recommended? | | | | Concerns over the presence of mercury in fish make |
| Have you visited your primary care physician lately? | | | | it even more difficult to provide dietary |
| In many areas of the country, primary care | | | | recommendations that can be applied to everyone. |
| physicians commonly schedule 6 or more patients per | | | | Women of child bearing age and children need to use |
| hour. Meaning that the waiting room is packed and | | | | the most care when selecting which fish to eat and |
| your time with your doctor may amount to little | | | | how often. For example, Oceans Alive, a department |
| more than 5 minutes. | | | | of the Environmental Defense Network, recommends |
| Those physicians in the survey who frequently | | | | that young children should never eat Atlantic salmon, |
| recommended fish oil also reported having more time | | | | because of possible mercury contamination. |
| to discuss the importance of diet with their patients. | | | | |