Millions of Americans take a fish oil supplement daily in an attempt to avoid heart disease and other ailments, but doing so may have a major negative side-effect for men.

A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that having high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their system may create a higher risk of prostate cancer in men.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Theodore Brasky, who is also a research assistant professor at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, said of the findings that “These anti-inflammatory omega-3s were associated with a 43 percent increased risk for prostate cancer overall, and a 71 percent increased risk in aggressive prostate cancer.”

This news will likely cause the popularity of fish oil as a dietary supplement to take a hit. The fact that this news is such a shock is a testament to how Americans who are looking to stay healthy turn to supplements to provide what they feel they are lacking in their diet. But it also goes deeper than that; the news could also affect how often men trying to stave off heart disease choose to eat fish.

In the end, it is still up to the individual man to maintain his health and consult a doctor when they feel that something in their life needs tweaking. There is no miracle pill to ward off disease, and thinking that one does exist could possibly lead to unforeseen consequences.