Fish oil is a dietary supplement derived from fatty fish such as sardines, mackerel and herring. Oil from these species contains substances called omega-3 fatty acids, which have a vital role in human growth, development and brain function. You may also use fish oil supplements to lower your risk of common ailments such as heart disease, diabetes and arthritis.
The Facts
While omega-3 fatty acids are essential to your health, your body cannot produce them, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. For this reason, you must get adequate amounts from dietary sources or supplements. Omega-3 acids come in three basic forms: eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA; docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA; and alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. Fish oil supplements contain only EPA, DHA or a combination of both substances, while sources of ALA include soybean, pumpkin and flaxseed oils.
Cardiovascular Disorders
Fish oil supplements that contain DHA and EPA can significantly lower your blood levels of potentially harmful substances called triglycerides, according to the National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus website. They can also slow down the artery-hardening process called atherosclerosis and help lower your blood pressure. If you have cardiovascular disease, fish oil can lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, heart rhythm abnormalities and death, according to MedlinePlus.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
If you have the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis, using fish oil supplements for three months may ease joint tenderness and morning stiffness, MedlinePlus reports. Using fish oil in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or aspirin may increase your treatment benefits. But the University of Maryland Medical Center notes that fish oil cannot slow the progress of the disease.
Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you may have high triglyceride levels combined with low levels of a beneficial form of cholesterol called HDL. If this is the case, fish oil supplements may lower your triglycerides while raising your HDL, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. Fish oil may also lower your levels of a substance called apoprotein, which signals the presence of diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes, fish oil may raise your fasting blood sugar levels; as a result, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends talking to your doctor before using a fish oil product.
Additional Uses
If you have the autoimmune disease lupus, bipolar disorder or the skin disease psoriasis, fish oil supplements may help ease your associated symptoms, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. But evidence of fish oil's effectiveness in combating these conditions is mixed, and use of fish oil may not provide any benefit.
Considerations
If you use high doses of fish oil, you may increase your risks of bleeding, according to MedlinePlus. In addition, fish oil products may contain oil from fish that harbor mercury, lead or other dangerous pollutants. To ensure your safety, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that you buy only products guaranteed not to contain these substances. Adults should not take more than three grams of fish oil daily without a doctor's explicit advice. Additionally, you should not give fish oil to a child without a doctor's approval.
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