What Are the Benefits of Fish Oil?
Fish oil appears to provide a wide variety of health benefits. Because the typical American diet does not include much fish, many people turn to supplements to obtain these benefits. Research suggests that taking fish oil supplements probably provides similar benefits as eating a diet high in fish.
Unlike most supplements, fish oil has been studied extensively for a variety of uses. In fact, it seems like researchers have studied fish oil for just about everything. Some of these uses include:
Cardiovascular Conditions
Fish oil is probably best known for its benefits for the heart and vascular system. It can help lower
high triglycerides (known medically as hypertriglyceridemia). It may also slightly
increase HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol), although it may also increase
LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol). Research suggests that fish oil may prevent
cardiovascular disease (including heart attacks and strokes). In people who have already had a heart attack, the supplement may decrease the risk of another heart attack and the risk of death. In addition, taking fish oil after an
angioplasty procedure or
bypass surgery may help keep the blood vessels from closing back up.
The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests that people with
heart disease should consider an
omega-3 fatty acid supplement (such as fish oil), although a dietary intake of fish is preferred. The AHA also recommends that people who need to lower their triglycerides should take supplements with certain
omega-3 fatty acids (such as those found in fish oil), as it is unlikely that most people can eat enough fish to lower their triglycerides. In both of these situations, the AHA recommends that you take the supplements only under the supervision of your healthcare provider.
