A recent survey of over 11,000 consumers revealed that fish oil is currently the second most

popular nutritional supplement on the American market today, with annual spending exceeding
$1.2 billion for over-the-counter fish oil pills and related supplements.

Fish oil has long been touted for its supposedly positive effects on a variety of bodily functions
including lowering blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels; preventing heart
disease; inhibiting the formation of cancer cells; combatting depression and mood disorders;
reversing the effects of macular degeneration; and countless others.

But what does medical science have to say about these claims? Is fish oil the cure-all its
advertised to be, or would consumers be better off spending their money elsewhere?

Fish Oils (Not So) Secret Ingredient

Fish oil capsules contain concentrated amounts of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
rain health and
Omega-3 fatty acids are necessary for human health, playing a crucial role in b
the regulation of inflammatory responses. There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids,
two of which can be found in fish oil capsules.

1. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is absorbed into the body by eating oily, coldwater fish like
salmon, menhaden, sardines, mackerel, albacore tuna, halibut, and herring. EPA is also
found in edible strains of seaweed as well as human breast milk.

2. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an important structural component of the human brain

and is essential for its proper functioning. It also plays a primary role in maintaining the
health of the eye, cerebral cortex, skin, sperm, and testicles. The human body can
produce a small amount of DHA on its own, but like EPA, we get the majority of our DHA
from cold-water ocean foods. DHA can also be found in organ meat, poultry, and egg
yolks, though in small amounts.

Conclusions from Medical Literature

Cardiovascular Health
The positive effects of fish oil on the human cardiovascular system have well been established,
but thats not to say no controversy exists. After evaluating the potential benefits of fish oil
supplements for patients with multiple pre-existing cardiovascular disease factors, scientists
concluded that DHA and EPA had neither a positive nor a negative effect on cardiovascular
health. However, an early meta-analysis of fish oil studies revealed a possible correlation
between fish oil supplementation and lower blood pressure. Further, scientific data indicates
that fish oil consumption can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, decrease mild
hypertension, and prevent certain cardiac arrhythmias. Other studies show that fish oil capsules
can be effective in the prevention of primary and secondary cardiovascular disease. In multiple
clinical trials, fish oil supplements have been linked to the suppression of major coronary
events. The most conclusive benefit of fish oil supplements seems to be that fish oil capsules
are effective in lowering triglycerides in the blood. One study found that a prescription dose of
EPA + DHA (2x the normal amount) lowered patients triglycerides by 27%.

Mood Disorders
Fish oil is not considered to be an effective replacement for mental health treatments, but when
used in conjunction with other therapies, fish oil seems to provide beneficial effects to patients
diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, unresponsive depression, and schizophrenia.
EPA in particular has been studied for its possible use in regulating mood disorders, and
researchers found that EPA-heavy omega-3 supplements appear to be e ffective against primary
depression when used alongside prescription medications and other treatment. There is some
evidence, however, that fish oil supplementation does not improve mood when tested against a
placebo.

Alzheimers Disease
In a double-blind study spanning 26 weeks, researchers found that neither high nor low doses of
fish oil had an observable effect on cognitive performance in patients age 65 and older. A much
longer study, however, found that fish oil intake is associated with lower rates of Alzheimers
disease. That being said, in a study of 174 Alzheimers patients, fish oil supplementation was
not shown to reduce cognitive decline in patients with mild or moderate Alzheimers disease,
though some positive effects were shown in a small group of patients with very mild Alzheimers.
Other trials confirmed these finding that omega-3 supplementation is b eneficial only for patients
with mild cognitive impairment. While its still too early to make firm recommendations regarding
the potential benefits of fish oil intake, daily DHA supplementation in excess of 180 mg is
associated with a 50% decrease in dementia risk.

Eye Health
Regular consumption of EPA and DHA fatty acids significantly reduces the risk of developing
age-related macular degeneration in women. Other findings suggest that increased omega-3
intake via fish oil capsules can prevent age-related macular degeneration in all subjects,
sometimes by an estimated 22%. While the precise role of omega-3 fatty acids in eye health is
unclear, there is some evidence that suggests DHA supplements can prevent cell damage and
eye stroke injury in the retina.

Inflammation
A study of 250 patients with neck or back pain revealed that fish oil supplements are an equally
effective but safer treatment for reducing arthritic pain compared to NSAIDs like ibuprofen and
aspirin. Some studies suggest that EPA, independent from DHA, is a potential therapeutic
treatment for arthritis-related inflammation in mice, and that EPA has a stronger
anti-inflammatory effect than DHA. While another studys findings suggest that fish oil
supplements are not as effective in reducing chronic low-grade inflammation in obese men
compared to weight reduction, multiple studies seem to suggest that omega-3 fatty acid
supplements can decrease inflammation in patients, particularly those diagnosed with
rheumatoid arthritis or ulcerative colitis.

Cancer
Some evidence points to the benefit of fish oils anti-inflammatory effects on r educing the overall
number of cancer cells in the colon. Another investigation found that EPA + DHA are good
candidates for primary and secondary breast cancer prevention due to their abilities to reduce
inflammation. Strangely enough, one recent study has shown a correlation between elevated
levels of omega-3 fatty acids and an increased risk for developing aggressive prostate cancer;
men with the highest DHA levels were 2.5x more likely to develop high-risk prostate cancer,
though similar studies proved inconclusive. Further, other studies revealed opposite findings,
that fish oils are actually helpful in reducing the risk of prostate cancer in healthy individuals, as
well as preventing colorectal and breast cancer formation.

The Last Word

Ultimately, the health benefits of fish oil supplements are still unclear. Studies surrounding
omega-3 supplements, as we have seen, are conflicting at best, contradictory at worst. That
being said, multiple organizations agree that the potential benefits of fish oil capsules outweigh
the potential risks for generally healthy people, though more evidence is needed before making
a definitive claim.

Continue taking fish oil capsules if they have been prescribed to you by a physician. If you are
planning to begin a fish oil regimen, consult with your primary care physician beforehand to
make sure you are healthy enough and that they will benefit you. General consumers should be
aware that while many of the findings referenced above are interesting, its entirely possible you
may not be receiving the benefits youve been paying for.