Fish oil

Fish oil is a dietary source of omega 3 fatty acids. The body needs omega 3 fatty acids for many functions, from muscle activity to cell growth.

Omega 3 fatty acids come from food. The body cannot manufacture them. Fish oil contains two omega 3s called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Sources of DHA and EPA are fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and trout, and shellfish, such as mussels, oysters, and crab. Some nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils contain another omega 3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

Fish oil supplements come in liquid, capsule, and pill forms.

People take fish oil for its anti-inflammatory effects.

What are the benefits of fish oil?

Studies suggest that fish oil supplements may help reduce pain, improve morning stiffness, and ease joint tenderness in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

In research on the use of fish oil for specific conditions, the following have been shown to:

• Heart disease. Although research indicates that people who eat fish oil food sources at least twice a week have a lower risk of dying from heart disease, taking fish oil supplements appears to have little or no benefit for heart health. .
• High blood pressure. Several studies report moderate reductions in blood pressure in people taking fish oil supplements. There is some evidence that the beneficial effects of fish oil may be greater for people with moderate to severe high blood pressure than for people with a mild increase in blood pressure.
• High triglycerides and cholesterol. There is clear 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 low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol was also seen.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. Studies suggest that fish oil supplements may help reduce pain, improve morning stiffness, and ease joint tenderness in people with rheumatoid arthritis. While the relief is usually moderate, it may be enough to reduce the need for anti-inflammatory medications.

Older scientific evidence indicated that fish oil probably reduced heart attacks and deaths caused by arrhythmias in people with coronary artery disease. Fish oil also appeared to lower blood levels of triglycerides, a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Higher doses of fish oil may also reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and heart failure without lowering blood pressure. The most recent evidence indicates that taking fish oil for 1 to 7 years lowered triglyceride levels, but probably did not have much effect on heart attacks and death due to cardiac arrhythmias or on stroke in people with coronary artery disease.

Controlling risk factors for atherosclerosis (such as high blood pressure) and regularly eating more foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, as well as eating more dark green, leafy vegetables, help slow the progress of AMD. age.

Some evidence suggests that fish oil, taken as a supplement or from food, helps alleviate symptoms of dry eyes, but the available scientific data is inconsistent.

Observational evidence shows that people who take fish oil supplements may have less depression. However, these effects have not been conclusively proven and are likely to be minor.

Who should not take fish oil?

Contraindications of fish oil

Those who cannot consume fish due to some problem of intolerance or allergy. Those who take anticoagulant medications. People who take drugs to lower cholesterol. Patients taking blood pressure medications.

How many fish oil capsules should I take a day?

If you have already incorporated Omega 3 oil in capsules into your daily diet, the question that you have surely asked yourself is if you take 1, 2 or 3 capsules a day.

interactions

Here are some of the possible interactions:

• Anticoagulants and antiplatelets, herbal medicines and supplements. These types of medicines, herbal medicines, and supplements reduce blood clotting. Fish oil supplements may increase the risk of bleeding.
• Blood pressure medicines, herbal medicines and supplements. Taking fish oil supplements might slightly lower your blood pressure. Taking these supplements with blood pressure medications might increase the effects on your blood pressure.
• Contraceptives. Some contraceptives might interfere with the effect of fish oil on triglycerides.
• Orlistat ( Xenical , Alli ). Taking fish oil with this weight loss medication might decrease the absorption of fatty acids from fish oil. Consider taking the supplement and medication two hours apart.
• Vitamin E. Taking fish oil can lower vitamin E levels.