Who knew that the decision to take a simple supplement like fish oil could be so complicated? Omega-3 fatty acids (the medical name for fish oil) may help decrease inflammation and decrease the risk of developing heart disease. At first, taking a supplement seems to be an easy decision. After all, why eat fish if you can get the active ingredients in a pill? Manufacturers tout the benefits relentlessly, but sometimes push so hard it seems as if they are trying to sell snake oil. Contrast that with studies suggesting that taking fish oil is worthless, or may cause harm. What does the evidence suggest? Here are some important things to consider:
After seeing some of the pros and cons of taking an omega-3 fatty acid supplement, what is the bottom line? Eating fish is usually a better option than taking a pill, especially fish like salmon, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. But, good-quality supplements have the advantage of being extensively filtered so contaminants such as mercury, present in our fish supply, are eliminated. I take an omega-3 supplement myself and recommend them to my patients, especially if they do not love to eat fish. But pending further studies, the truth is that we do not know for certain if these supplements really help prevent heart disease. David Becker, M.D., is a board-certified cardiologist with Chestnut Hill Temple Cardiology in Flourtown. He has been in practice for 25 years. Can I take omegaThere's strong evidence that omega-3 fatty acids can significantly reduce blood triglyceride levels. There also appears to be a slight improvement in high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol, although an increase in levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol also was observed.
Which omegaFish oil. Omega-3 fatty acids have been promoted to help lower triglyceride levels The American Heart Association recommends that you eat non-fried fatty fish (salmon, anchovies, herring, mackerel, tuna, and sardines) at least twice a week.
How much omegaSuccessfully maintaining a ratio of 4:1 to 1:1 omega 6 to omega 3 will help lower cholesterol levels and control high blood pressure. How much omega 3 do you need to add? This is under debate and more research is being done. Right now the range experts recommend is from 500-2000 mg/day.
Does fish oil help good cholesterol?Although there are popular myths that taking fish oil lowers your cholesterol, it does not. It will lower your triglycerides, may modestly raise your HDL (which is a benefit), but can actually raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol, which is not a benefit.
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