Supported by a sizeable dossier of clinical evidence demonstrating positive health benefits, omega 3s continue to be an all-star market in the nutraceuticals industry. However, after a large study recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute linked omega 3s to prostate cancer risk, reports from mainstream and social media almost immediately flooded the Internet. Several friends and colleagues—who seemed noticeably shocked by the news considering all the positive press they’ve heard about “good fats”—asked me what I thought about the study.

As a writer, and not a scientist (and someone apparently fighting a losing battle with numbers; see correction note below), I deferred to the experts.

The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED) published a Rapid Review Alert that said in part, “While any recommendation for supplementation should consider any associated risks, we believe the authors’ conclusion is irresponsible and blatantly ignores the totality of the scientific evidence that has been collected over multiple decades regarding the health benefits of marine omega-3 fatty acids.”

Alongside a potentially invalidating study design, which GOED went on to outline, if the findings were true, then wouldn’t you expect to see high prostate cancer rates among people in countries where significant amounts of seafood are consumed, and low rates where consumption is low? To my knowledge, that epidemiological evidence simply doesn’t exist.

Meanwhile, as contributing writer Lisa Schofield writes, Euromonitor International estimated “the global omega 3 market in packaged format (i.e., supplements, food and drink) reached $33 billion in sales in 2012, 72% of which stemmed from milk formula alone.” Omega 3s were also the third fastest-growing type of supplement globally between 2007 and 2012 with a 12% CAGR.

Not to be outdone, the pharmaceutical industry is also poised to profit. In a recent report, Amadee & Company estimated that 5 million prescriptions for omega 3 products will be written in 2013, jumping to 10.7 million by 2019.

Also in this issue, GOED’s Director of Information and Research Aldo Bernasconi, PhD, offers insight on usage and consumer attitudes in the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China), presenting companies with an emerging avenue for success. Despite any bad press, it seems the omega 3 market is still a strong, fast-moving growth market that won’t be derailed any time soon.

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Correction: In last issue’s editorial (July/August, “An Obvious Opportunity?”) the U.S. Hispanic population was incorrectly stated to be 52,000 instead of 52 million. We regret the error.