Perhaps the most widely studied health benefits of omega-3 fish oil are those associated with heart disease as a means for lowering triglycerides, cholesterol and blood pressure. The University of Maryland Medical Center considers the clinical evidence supporting these benefits to be the strongest of all related scientific research to date. However it's important to note the difference between the omega-3's found in fish oil capsules from omega-3's derived from plant sources. The majority of studies associated with heart disease and triglycerides researched fish oil derivatives delivered in capsule form.
Capsule Bioavailability
The fish oil in capsules comes from one of two forms: ethyl ester, or EE, and triglyceride, or TG. The TG form contains a naturally occurring ratio of EPA to DHA. These are the most important fatty acids contained in omega-3 fish oil. The EE form is processed to concentrate the levels of constituent fatty acids. However an article in the journal "Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and EFAs" reports that any gains from concentrating capsule levels is lost in the body. Analysis reveals that the TG form is significantly more bioavailable by a factor of 59 percent.
Triglycerides
Blood levels of triglycerides are an important indicator of heart health. Triglycerides are fats the body manufacturers from excess calories. Under normal circumstances they travel through the blood stream to various locations for storage in fat cells. However when something goes wrong, triglycerides accumulate in the blood stream thickening its density to the consistency of sludge. High blood levels of triglycerides increase the chances of clotting, heart attack and stroke.
DHA & Triglycerides
"The Journal of the American College of Nutrition" reports that DHA alone is effective in lowering triglyceride levels. The researchers provided study participants with either 1,000 mg of DHA or a combination dose of 1,252 mg DHA + EPA. A total of 116 subjects were enrolled with 57 in the DHA group and 59 in the combination group. After eight weeks triglycerides were lowered 21.8 percent in the DHA group and 18.3 percent in the combination group.
DHA + EPA and Triglycerides
The majority of studies looking at the triglyceride-lowering effects of omega-3 fish oil examined the combination of DHA + EPA fatty acids. A review article of the major studies published in the journal Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and EFAs concludes that the blood triglyceride-lowering effect of DHA appears to be very similar to that of DHA + EPA mixtures. People taking 3,000 mg of the combination reduced their triglyceride levels by 30 percent. The American Heart Association recommends that people at risk should consider taking between 2,000 and 4,000 mg DHA + EPA when supervised by a physician.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- "Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids"; Dyerberg, J. et al.; September, 2010
- Mayo Clinic: High Cholesterol: Triglycerides: Why do they matter?
- "Journal of the American College of Nutrition"; The triglyceride-lowering effects of DHA; L. Schwellenbach et. al.; December, 2006
- "Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids"; DHA and cardiovascular risk; B. Holub; August-September, 2009
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