Fish oil supplements such as salmon oil contain omega-3 fatty acids, essential fats that decrease harmful inflammation in the body's tissues and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. However, commercial fish oil supplements may contain harmful pesticides; to prevent pesticide exposure, the University of Maryland Medical Center advises that you purchase products from a manufacturer that tests salmon oil supplements for mercury and other pesticides.
Heart Disease Risk
Consuming fish oil supplements rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduces heart disease risk, according to research from the Harvard School of Public Health published in the October 2006 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association." Fish oil supplements also reduce blood pressure measurements and triglyceride levels, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. Triglycerides are a form of fat that circulates in the blood that increase the risk of heart disease.
Brain Development
Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health also suggest that omega-3 fatty acids such as those found in salmon oil supplements improve brain development in children of women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The brain contains high concentrations of omega-3, and if pregnant women don't get enough of this fatty acid, their infants may develop vision, nerve or behavioral problems, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Depression
People who experience symptoms of depression, such as sleeplessness, difficulty concentrating, loss of appetite, hopelessness and irritability, may benefit from taking fish oil supplements such as salmon oil, according to MayoClinic.com. Research indicates that depressed people have lower levels of eicosopentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, chemicals contained in fish oils. Adding a salmon oil supplement with a combination of these chemicals could improve depression symptoms when combined with antidepressant medications, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. MayoClinic.com cautions that fish oil supplements work better for people with severe depression, not mild or moderate forms of the mental disorder.
Autoimmune Disorders
Clinical evidence suggests that taking fish oil supplements decreases symptoms of joint soreness and pain that accompanies the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis. Fish oil supplements also benefit people with systemic lupus erythematosus, an inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes severe fatigue and joint stiffness. Some small research studies also indicate that psoriasis, an autoimmune disorder characterized by scaling skin patches, improves when patients take fish oil supplements and prescription psoriasis medications, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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