While inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is also triggered by inflammation, there is no clear evidence to suggest that fish oil improves its symptoms ( 48). Moreover, fish oil supplements can significantly reduce joint pain, stiffness, and medication needs in people with rheumatoid arthritis, which causes pain in the joints ( 46, 47).

In two older studies - one in people with obesity and one in people experiencing stress - fish oil was found to reduce the production and gene expression of inflammatory molecules called cytokines ( 44, 45). Reducing inflammation can help treat symptoms of these diseases.īecause fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties, it may help treat conditions involving chronic inflammation ( 43).įor example, increased weight or stress can sometimes contribute to higher levels of inflammation. However, chronic inflammation is associated with health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, depression, and heart disease ( 41, 42). Inflammation is your immune system’s way of fighting infection and treating injuries.

However, there is no clear evidence that they can prevent heart attacks or strokes. Summaryįish oil supplements may reduce some of the risk factors associated with heart disease. It may prevent the plaques that can cause arteries to harden, as well as make arterial plaques more stable and safer in those who already have them ( 22, 23, 24).Īlthough fish oil supplements can improve many of the risk factors for heart disease, there is no clear evidence that they can prevent heart attacks or strokes ( 25). Even in small doses, it helps reduce blood pressure in people with elevated levels ( 19, 20, 21). It can increase levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and may also lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol ( 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17). The benefits of fish oil for heart health include: Multiple risk factors for heart disease appear to be reduced by the consumption of fish or fish oil. Studies show that people who eat a lot of fish have much lower rates of heart disease ( 8, 9). Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide ( 7). This distorted ratio of fatty acids may contribute to numerous diseases ( 3, 4, 5, 6). It’s also important to get enough omega-3s because the Western diet has replaced a lot of omega-3s with other fats, such as omega-6s. The main types of omega-3s in fish oil are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), while the type found in plant sources is mainly alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).Īlthough ALA is an essential fatty acid, EPA and DHA have many more health benefits ( 1, 2). It’s important to note that the types of omega-3s found in fish oil have greater health benefits than the omega-3s found in some plant sources. What’s more, fish oil usually contains some vitamin A and D. However, if you don’t eat 1–2 servings of fish per week, fish oil supplements can help you get enough omega-3s.Īround 30% of fish oil is made up of omega-3s, while the remaining 70% is made up of other fats. This is because the omega-3 fatty acids in fish provide many health benefits, including protection against a number of diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends eating 1–2 portions of fish per week. it’s also sometimes produced from the livers of other fish, as is the case with cod liver oil. It usually comes from oily fish such as herring, tuna, anchovies, and mackerel. Fish oil is the fat or oil that’s extracted from fish tissue.

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