The amount of different lipids or fats in your blood can indicate your risk of developing cardiovascular problems such as a stroke or heart disease. In addition to cholesterol, triglyceride levels are an important lipid in your blood. If you have high triglyceride levels, omega-3 fatty acids may be able to help you reduce the amount of this fat in your blood.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the form in which most fat exists in both the body and in food, the American Heart Association says. Along with cholesterol, they form most of the lipids in the blood. When you don't immediately burn all of the calories from food, your body converts the excess energy into triglycerides, which are then stored in adipose tissue. Your body can release triglycerides for use as fuel via the action of various hormones.
Triglyceride Measurements
Triglycerides are important because high levels of them can cause your arteries to become hard and thick, also known as atherosclerosis. They can also be a sign of other health problems, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome -- which also increase your risk of developing a heart attack or stroke, the Mayo Clinic says. Triglycerides are measured using a blood test and are typically reported in terms of mg per dL of blood. Normal triglyceride levels are values less than 150; borderline high is between 150 and 199 and high is between 200 and 499. Anything above that is considered to be very high.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of unsaturated fat that cannot be made by the body. As a result, these fatty acids have to come from the diet and are classified as "essential" fatty acids. You need omega-3 fatty acids to keep the brain properly functioning; they may also affect the amount of lipids in your blood. Dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseed oil, walnuts and fatty fish, such as salmon, halibut and sardines. You can also take omega-3 supplements to increase your intake of these fats.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Triglycerides
Fish oil, which is a source of omega-3 fatty acids, is often taken to lower your risk of developing heart problems or a stroke. One of fish oil's effects is to lower your triglyceride levels, the University of Maryland Medical Center says. If you don't have a history of heart disease, you should consume fatty fish twice per week. If your triglyceride or cholesterol levels are poor, you should consume 2g to 4g of two omega-3 fatty acids, known as EPA and DHA from supplements.
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