Fish oil is a widely used supplement that contains high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, which may offer health benefits for your cardiovascular system. In addition to a variety of other heart-healthy actions, fish oil appears to thin the blood. Talk with your doctor about taking fish oil to discuss the proper dosage and possible drug interactions.
Function
The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil appear to reduce excessive clotting, or "stickiness," of your blood platelets, as well as lower triglyceride levels, homocysteine levels and blood pressure, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Fish oil may also slow down your heart rate, provide anti-inflammatory actions and support healthy blood-vessel tone. These actions could help in preventing heart disease, heart attacks and strokes, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Uses
Fish oil supplements are sometimes recommended for preventing or slowing the progression of heart disease, as well as helping to treat inflammatory conditions like arthritis, ulcerative colitis, eczema, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, asthma and lupus, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Fish oil might also help in treating angina, Alzheimer's disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, Raynaud's disease, sickle cell anemia and allergies. You might take fish oil to help treat kidney disease, schizophrenia, premenstrual syndrome, diabetes, osteoporosis, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, as well as prevent premature birth and colon cancer, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Consult your physician before taking fish oil to prevent or treat any medical condition.
Dosage
The amount of fish oil supplements you might take to thin your blood would be based on the content of the omega-3 fatty acids, which are called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), says the University of Maryland Medical Center. When you take fish oil, the typical ratio of DHA to EPA is 0.12 g to 0.18 g. For heart protective and blood-thinning effects, you could take a daily dose that provides 1 to 2 ½ g of DHA and 2 to 3 g of EPA, or the equivalent of at least 5 g of omega-3 fatty acids, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Ask your doctor about the dosage of fish oil that's right for you.
Scientific Evidence
A medical study in France in 1996 found that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil effectively reduced homocysteine levels in the blood, leading to a blood-thinning effect, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Another double-blind study in 2003 found similar effects of fish oil on homocysteine levels, according to an issue of "Pathophysiologic Haemostasis Thrombosis." A study of type 2 diabetics with high blood pressure discovered that fish oil effectively reduced platelet "stickiness" and thinned the blood, according to a 2003 issue of "Atherosclerosis." Finally, a 2004 article from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews determined that omega-3 fatty acids like fish oil may prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Warnings
Because fish oil can produce blood-thinning effects, you shouldn't take it if you have a bleeding disorder like hemophilia. Additionally, you should take fish oil only under the close supervision of a healthcare professional if you're also taking blood-thinning medications like Coumadin, because the combination of fish oil and these drugs could increase your bleeding risks, warns the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Although fish oil can reduce triglyceride levels, it might also temporarily reduce your HDL, or "good cholesterol" levels, increase your LDL, or "bad cholesterol" levels, and make you gain some weight. Taking fish oil could also increase your blood sugar levels, says the University of Michigan Health System.
Typical side effects of taking fish oil supplements include diarrhea, gas and fishy burps. The fish harvested to make fish oil supplements could contain toxic heavy metals, chemical residues and other water contaminants, but most reputable products have these harmful substances removed, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Fish oil can also interfere with diabetes medications like insulin, metformin and glyburide.
Member Comments