Day 034 - 11 Oct 94 - Page 66
1 questions about that sentence. Do you say that there is
2 no respectable body of medical opinion which still
3 promotes the use of fish oils for the benefit of human
4 health?
5 A. No, I am not suggesting that.
6
7 Q. What do you mean or did you mean by the words "that were
8 once in vogue"?
9 A. There was a particular fad of consuming capsules of
10 fish oil, particularly, to reduce the risk of
11 cardiovascular disease, and that seems to have subsided to
12 a degree.
13
14 Q. My second question, and perhaps more important,
15 Dr. Barnard, is this: Are you by this sentence trying to
16 create a fear in the minds of your readers that if they
17 consume fish oils they may get cancer?
18 A. No.
19
20 Q. You are not? Then please explain to me what is the
21 purpose of that sentence?
22 A. Regrettably, because of a substantial body of research
23 suggesting that, in fact, there are benefits from the use
24 of fish oils in certain conditions, some people have taken
25 that to mean that consuming concentrated fish oils
26 supplements should be a general recommendation. There is
27 also a body of literature showing that, due to their
28 chemical structure, fish oils tend to encourage the
29 production of free radicals. I have made a couple of
30 references here that people ought to be aware of that.
31 Moreover, that while fish oils do have a role in the
32 treatment of certain conditions, I am not encouraging that
33 people rely on them for health. I think there are
34 disadvantages from fish. That is the thrust of this, that
35 people are to -----
36
37 Q. There is a body of evidence, is there not, quite a body of
38 evidence, which holds that the consumption of what in this
39 country we call the n-3 fatty acids -- what I think you
40 call omega 3s -- actually inhabits the promotion of
41 malignant tumours?
42 A. There is a body of experimental evidence that shows,
43 yes, that is correct.
44
45 Q. What I am asking you is this: Why is that not mentioned
46 in this book?
47 A. In a single volume -- the point of this volume is to
48 describe the New Four Food Groups and how to use it. I am
49 not one who suggests fish oil supplementation. I did not
50 see that as part of the scope of this book.
51
52 Q. I perfectly well accept that, but there is not an argument
53 against fish oil supplementation; this is an argument
54 against fish, is it not?
55 A. In this section ----
56
57 Q. Foods to avoid, fish?
58 A. Yes. I have brought -- well, the sentence you brought
59 to my attention describes fish oils, but there are also
60 serious health risks regarding fish, particularly those
