Research attempting to quantify the impact of fish oil supplements on heart health received significant coverage. The research 
was featured on two of last night's national news broadcasts, with combined coverage totaling more than four-and-a-half minutes. Several print and online news sources also covered the story. The results were generally portrayed as disappointing, as many patients use the supplements to ward off potential heart problems.
was featured on two of last night's national news broadcasts, with combined coverage totaling more than four-and-a-half minutes. Several print and online news sources also covered the story. The results were generally portrayed as disappointing, as many patients use the supplements to ward off potential heart problems.
ABC World News (9/11, story 4, 2:35, Sawyer) reported, "The American Heart Association has long said that eating oily fish is good for your heart, so millions of people take fish oil supplements hoping for the benefit and, in fact, doctors often recommend the supplements for people who already have heart disease. But a big new study out tonight says those pills are not doing what they thought."
On NBC Nightly News (9/11, story 7, 2:15, Williams), chief science correspondent Robert Bazell said, "The research out today combined 20 previous studies involving more than 68,000 patients since 1989. The analysis by Greek scientists was published...in the Journal of the American Medical Association."
USA Today (9/12, Weise) reports the researchers "found no statistically significant association between all deaths, cardiac-related deaths, sudden deaths, heart attacks and strokes among people taking the supplements."
(9/12, Weise) reports the researchers "found no statistically significant association between all deaths, cardiac-related deaths, sudden deaths, heart attacks and strokes among people taking the supplements."
The Los Angeles Times (9/12, Morin) reports that the researchers "said that early trials of omega-3 supplements and cardiovascular health 'showed strong, significant effect.' However, as more randomized studies were performed, 'the effect became weaker and nonsignificant.'"
(9/12, Morin) reports that the researchers "said that early trials of omega-3 supplements and cardiovascular health 'showed strong, significant effect.' However, as more randomized studies were performed, 'the effect became weaker and nonsignificant.'"
Bloomberg News (9/12, von Schaper) reports, "The patients involved were largely of European descent and took an average of 1.5 grams (0.05 ounces) of omega-3 supplements a day for a median of two years."
(9/12, von Schaper) reports, "The patients involved were largely of European descent and took an average of 1.5 grams (0.05 ounces) of omega-3 supplements a day for a median of two years."
CNN (9/12, Gardner) reports, "The study isn't the first to cast doubt on the benefits of fish oil. In April, a similar analysis of previous research found that the supplements did not help prevent second heart attacks or strokes in people with cardiovascular disease."
(9/12, Gardner) reports, "The study isn't the first to cast doubt on the benefits of fish oil. In April, a similar analysis of previous research found that the supplements did not help prevent second heart attacks or strokes in people with cardiovascular disease."
On its website, ABC News (9/12, Hawthorne) reports, "Some experts...note that the report is limited, because the authors only included results from 20 of the thousands of studies on this topic, as many of these studies vary in terms of the types of patients and the doses of fish oil studied."
(9/12, Hawthorne) reports, "Some experts...note that the report is limited, because the authors only included results from 20 of the thousands of studies on this topic, as many of these studies vary in terms of the types of patients and the doses of fish oil studied."
MedPage Today (9/12, Neale) reports that the study authors wrote that the results "do not justify the use of omega-3 as a structured intervention in everyday clinical practice or guidelines supporting dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid administration."
(9/12, Neale) reports that the study authors wrote that the results "do not justify the use of omega-3 as a structured intervention in everyday clinical practice or guidelines supporting dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid administration."
Also covering the story are the Daily Telegraph (UK) (9/12, Adams), WebMD (9/12, Boyles), HealthDay (9/12, Reinberg) and Reuters (9/12, Joelving).
(9/12, Adams), WebMD (9/12, Boyles), HealthDay (9/12, Reinberg) and Reuters (9/12, Joelving).
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