Fish Oil Supplements & Hdl Levels

With their potential in preventing or treating several disease conditions, fish oils have become popular among health-conscious consumers. When it comes to heart disease, the evidence supports fish oil's role in lowering blood pressure, triglyceride level, heart arrhythmia and heart attacks. Their effect on HDL cholesterol level, a risk factor of heart disease, is not as definite.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol circulating in the body either comes from the diet or is made in the liver. Despite having a bad reputation, cholesterol is the building block for vitamin D, steroid hormones and bile acids, which are necessary for the digestion and absorption of vitamins A, E and D. Because cholesterol cannot travel in the blood by itself, it needs to be packaged into carriers first. There are several types of carriers, including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).

HDL-C

Known as the "good" cholesterol, having a low level of HDL-C, below 40 ml/dL, is considered a risk factor for heart disease, while a high level protects against heart attacks. It is thought that HDL-C carries cholesterol from the tissues to the liver, where it is broken apart to be excreted. HDL-C may even carry cholesterol away from a plaque that has built up, decreasing the blockage in veins. A high level of HDL-C, which is a negative risk factor for heart disease, is 60 mg/dL or more.

Fish Oil Supplements

Fish oil supplements contain the two omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA helps lower inflammation, while DHA is a major fatty acid in the brain and the eyes and contributes to their health. The amount of EPA and DHA in fish oil supplements varies among formulations, so reading the label is necessary to determine the exact dose.

Fish Oil Supplements and HDL-C

A 2009 review published in Current Pharmaceutical Design found that fish oil supplements increased HDL-C level only slightly. In a randomized controlled study in the 2001 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people with history of a heart attack significantly increased their HDL-C level after taking omega-3 supplements. In a third study, men who took 4g of omega-3 fatty acids with statin treatment--a medication that lowers cholesterol--modestly increased their HDL-C level.

Conclusion

Fish oil supplements may increase HDL-C level, but the effect is modest and depends on the dose, concurrent medications and the person's current risk and history of heart disease. High doses of omega-3 fatty acids, more than 2g of EPA and DHA a day, should not be taken without close followup with a physician due to increased risk of bleeding. To increase HDL-C level, exercise and weight loss are the gold standards. Quitting smoking also helps.