Fish oil capsules could be off the menu for heart attack survivors, according to proposals issued today.
Oily fish, and the omega-3 fatty acid it contains, used to be part of the prescription for people who have had a heart attack.
But now it is proposed that they are no longer necessary.
The change comes in draft guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the UK.
The guidance says the outlook for survivors has changed dramatically because of new treatments – and that oily fish would now have a "minimal" impact.
NICE says heart patients should still be encouraged to eat a healthy diet based on so-called Mediterranean foods such as bread, fruit, vegetables and fish.
It said the guidance would also update advice on the use of drugs.
And it calls for patients to be offered a programme of education and activity.
Professor Mark Baker, of NICE, said: “Despite the improvements in the number of people surviving a heart attack, heart disease remains the UK’s biggest killer, causing more than 80,000 deaths each year. It also causes ongoing health problems for many thousands of others.
"People who have had a heart attack should also be encouraged to eat a healthier, Mediterranean-style diet, and exercise daily in order to reduce their risk of a further heart attack.
"The guideline will help ensure there is continued progress in reducing the number of premature, preventable deaths in people who have had a heart attack.”
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