Fish oil supplements are commonly taken to reduce heart disease. Fish oil supplements reduce heart irregularities, cholesterol levels and risk of heart attack. The key ingredients in fish oil are omega-3 fatty acids. If you are a healthy adult, you may receive enough omega-3 from eating fish twice a week. However, if you suffer from coronary heart disease or high cholesterol levels, additional fish oil will increase the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in your body. Still, large amounts of fish oil are not recommended. Always discuss taking fish oil supplements with your medical professional to avoid potentially harmful side effects.
Dosage
Most medical professionals recommend not taking 3 g or more, unless under the supervision of a physician. According to the University of Maryland, patients with coronary heart disease should take 1 g of fish oil daily. The University suggests that patients with high cholesterol take 2 to 3 g, if considering the supplement. If you are healthy, simply eating fatty fish such as halibut, tuna and salmon twice a week may fulfill your body's omega-3 requirements.
Side Effects
Taking large amounts of fish oil, generally considered 3 g or more, can cause negative side effects. You may notice an increase in nosebleeds or bruises on your skin. In rare cases, you can suffer from a hemorrhagic stroke. The condition is caused by vessels in the brain bursting and internal bleeding occurring. These side effects may still occur when taking lower amounts of fish oil.
Medication Interactions
Fish oil can interact with some medications. Because fish oil is a natural blood thinner, be cautious if you are also taking anticoagulant drugs such as aspirin or warfarin. Don't forget some herbs also cause blood to thin and decrease clotting time. These herbal supplements include ginkgo, garlic, red clover and willow. Oral birth control may make the fish oil's cholesterol-reducing abilities ineffective. Fish oil can reduce blood pressure. If you are already taking medications to reduce blood pressure, be careful as fish oil may lower your body's blood pressure to unsafe levels.
Additional Warnings
Taking fish oil in any amount is discouraged if you suffer from extreme heart disease or irregular heart rhythms, according to Harvard Health Publications. Patients who have an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator are also advised to avoid fish oil supplements in any dose, states the publication. Always discuss taking fish oil or any supplement with your physician first. Patients who suffer from compromised immune systems should also exercise caution with fish oil. Fish oil may reduce the body's immune system response time. Additionally, taking large doses of fish oil does increase the LDL cholesterol level in some people, causing serious health complications.
References
- ConsumerLab.com: ConsumerLab.com Publishes 2009 Report on Vitamin & Supplement Users, Including Top-Rated Brands and Merchants
- MayoClinic.com: Taking Fish Oil Supplements --- Without Fishy Burps
- MedlinePlus: Fish Oil
- University of Maryland: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Harvard Health Publications: Fish and Fish Oil: Good for Most People, But Not All
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