Know the Science: The Facts About Health News Stories

What’s Missing: Information on Side Effects!

Potential harmful side effects of a complementary health approach and the quality of the evidence supporting a study’s findings are sometimes left out or not fully explained in health news stories.

One lengthy news story from 2010 talked about using fish oil during pregnancy.

What was missing from the news story?

Tell me!

Headline: Fish oil use in pregnancy didn't make babies smart

What was missing: This story did not mention the possible side effects of fish oil, like upset stomach and interactions with prescription or over-the-counter medications.