Omega-3 fallout
Our top hitting science stories of this year centre around research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, which suggested that a high intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from foods and supplements could increase the risk the risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer by 71%.
The large-scale prospective study, which followed up from a previous 2011 study, also found a 44% increase in the risk of low-grade prostate cancer and an overall 43% increase in risk for all prostate cancers.
"We've shown once again that use of nutritional supplements may be harmful," said the researchers behind the study - who added that the findings of both the 2011 study and the recent research are surprising because omega-3 fatty acids are generally believed to have a host of positive health effects based on their anti-inflammatory properties.
However, the study caused a huge backlash within the industry and wider research community, and was widely criticised as 'overblown' and 'scaremongering'.
Indeed, a raft of industry and academic experts slammed the publication, with many noting that the observational nature of the study means that it cannot show any sort of cause and effect relationship.