The answer is more friend than foe, especially if the fish oil comes from food sources rather than supplements. Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines are rich in these omega-3s. Some plants are rich in another type of omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid, which the body can convert to DHA and EPA. Good sources of these are flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and canola oil.
Omega-3 fatty acids play important roles in brain function, normal growth and development, and inflammation. Deficiencies have been linked to a variety of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, some cancers, mood disorders, arthritis, and more.
Miscellaneous Conditions. Omega-3s have been studied for other conditions, with either inconclusive or negative results. Side effects of omega-3 supplements are usually mild. They include unpleasant taste, bad breath, bad-smelling sweat, headache, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, and diarrhea. Several large studies have linked higher blood levels of long-chain omega-3s with higher risks of prostate cancer.
The reason for these apparently conflicting findings is unclear. Omega-3 supplements may interact with drugs that affect blood clotting. More Information. Currently, topics that NCCIH-funded researchers are investigating include: How changes in the intake of omega-3s and other fatty acids affect patients with migraine Which patients with depression might respond to EPA How genetic differences affect the fate of omega-3s in the body The effects of flaxseed, which is rich in ALA, in an animal model of ovarian cancer.
More To Consider. For More Information. Toll-free in the U. Office of Dietary Supplements ODS , National Institutes of Health NIH ODS seeks to strengthen knowledge and understanding of dietary supplements by evaluating scientific information, supporting research, sharing research results, and educating the public.
MedlinePlus To provide resources that help answer health questions, MedlinePlus a service of the National Library of Medicine brings together authoritative information from the National Institutes of Health as well as other Government agencies and health-related organizations. Key References. Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 research group. Omega-3 fatty acids for depression in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Associations of omega-3 fatty acid supplement use with cardiovascular disease risks.
Meta-analysis of 10 trials involving 77, individuals. JAMA Cardiology. AHRQ publication no. Fish oil-derived fatty acids in pregnancy and wheeze and asthma in offspring. New England Journal of Medicine. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. N-3 fatty acid supplementation for the treatment of dry eye disease.
Grey A, Bolland M. Clinical trial evidence and use of fish oil supplements. Role of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of depressive disorders: a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
PLoS One. Accumulated evidence on fish consumption and coronary heart disease mortality: a meta-analysis of cohort studies. Efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid supplements eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.
Archives of Internal Medicine. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis. Archives of Medical Research. Influence of marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on immune function and a systematic review of their effects on clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis.
British Journal of Nutrition. Office of Dietary Supplements. Office of Dietary Supplements website. A systematic review of omega-3 fatty acids and osteoporosis.
Querques G, Souied EH. The role of omega-3 and micronutrients in age-related macular degeneration. Survey of Ophthalmology. Association between omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and risk of major cardiovascular disease events: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid EPA in clinical trials in depression.
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Omega 3 fatty acid for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia.
Fish consumption and prostate cancer risk: a review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Other References. Omega 3 and 6 oils for primary prevention of allergic disease: systematic review and meta-analysis. Dietary supplements for established atopic eczema. A randomized controlled trial of omega-3 fatty acids in dry eye syndrome. International Journal of Ophthalmology. Use of complementary health approaches among children aged 4?
National health statistics reports; no Bloch MH, Qawasmi A. There is evidence that fish oil lengthens gestation in pregnant women and improves anxiety. EPA may also have an antidepressant effect. Despite its reputation, fish oil is not inherently fishy. It only smells that way once omega-3 fatty acids begin reacting with oxygen. Should people stop taking fish oil?
Should they start? What about people who never eat fish? And is a high dose of EPA the answer to our problems? After half a century of study, we may not have the answer we want — but we do have better questions. What we need, believe it or not, is more research. As it happens, another major fish oil study is underway. It should be reporting about a year from now.
Richard Bazinet is an a ssociate professor and the Canada research chair in brain lipid metabolism in the department of nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto.
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By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Do fish oil supplements work? Science keeps giving us slippery answers. Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. Why did fish oil look healthy, then stop looking healthy, then suddenly look healthy again? Shutterstock When it comes to natural supplements , nothing beats fish oil.
You should also make sure that any you already take, or shop for in the future, come with a seal of approval from places like U. Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab. These three independent organizations test popular supplements to see that they are properly manufactured, contain the ingredients and doses listed on the label, and don't contain harmful contaminants.
That's important since over-the-counter dietary supplements, unlike prescription medications, aren't closely regulated by the U. Food and Drug Administration to ensure that manufacturing has met high standards for quality, safety and effectiveness — so you can't always be sure of what you're swallowing, or that the doses claimed of things like fatty acids are accurate.
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