Fish oil containing omega-3 fatty acids may decrease cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Heart disease results from excess low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol that builds up in the arteries and decreases blood flow to the heart. Omega-3s may raise levels of protective high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol, which clears away excess cholesterol and brings it to the liver for disposal.
Sources
Oily fish containing omega-3 fatty acids include tuna, salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, halibut and lake trout. Healthy doses of omega-3s also come from fish oil supplements. If you don't eat enough fish, flaxseeds, soybeans, walnuts and pumpkin seeds contain omega-3s along with canola, flaxseed, soybean, pumpkin seed and walnut oils. You can also add these nuts, seeds and oils to your fish dishes. Walnuts may lower total cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol, the University of Maryland Medical Center says.
Reducing Cholesterol Damage
Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce high cholesterol and prevent and treat atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, caused by cholesterol buildup in the blood that leads to heart disease. Omega-3 fish oil appears to slow or reverse the progress of atherosclerosis. The omega-3s may reduce inflammation throughout the body to prevent damage to blood vessels that leads to heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids also reduce blood clotting, lower blood pressure and boost immunity.
Diet
Fish with omega-3 fatty acids make a healthy alternative to saturated fats found in meat to lower cholesterol, the Mayo Clinic notes. People who practice a Mediterranean diet, which includes high amounts of fish, have high levels of HDL cholesterol. Inuit Eskimos, living in Canada and Greenland, consume diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids from fish. They also have increased HDL cholesterol levels and decreased triglycerides, fats in the blood related to cholesterol. The Mayo Clinic recommends eating fish two times a week, especially fish rich in omega-3s. Bake, grill or broil fish to avoid eating unhealthy fats. Evidence appears to show stronger benefits from eating fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids than from supplements. However, people with heart disease may benefit from supplements.
Supplements
Fish oil supplements are often manufactured from omega-3 fatty acid fish, MedlinePlus notes. Fish oil may protect patients who undergo heart bypass surgery by reducing the rate of blood vessel re-blockage following surgery. People who have had heart attacks benefit from fish oil and lower their risk of dying from heart disease. Fish oil supplements may be as effective as cholesterol-lowering drugs, called statins. Fish oil in combination with medication may help lower cholesterol for patients with high cholesterol. Fish oil may have the ability to keep cholesterol from being absorbed in the intestine.
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