Fish oil is a commonly used supplement that is derived from fatty fish, such as mackerel, herring, lake trout and sardines. Fish oil has a number of health benefits and is safe for most people to use but it can, when taken in high amounts or in combination with certain medications, increase your risk of hemorrhages.
What's In Fish Oil?
The health benefits of fish oil comes from its omega-3 fatty acid content. Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial unsaturated fats that your body cannot make, so you must get them from supplements or from dietary sources, such as flaxseed oil, fatty fish and vegetable oils. Fish oil contains two omega-3 fatty acids, known as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid or EPA and DHA, which are particularly important for the human body.
Fish Oil Benefits
There are a variety of different reasons why people take fish oil. As MayoClinic.com explains, fish oil can lower your triglyceride levels and your blood pressure, which helps prevent atherosclerosis and reduces the strain on your heart. Fish oil is effective at reducing your risk of having a heart attack and some kinds of strokes. Some psychiatric disorders, such as depression, also respond to fish oil. Fish oil also reduces inflammation, which makes it useful for treating conditions mediated by inflammation, such as asthma, allergies and some types of arthritis.
Fish Oil and Bleeding
One of the effects of omega-3 fatty acids is that they make it hard for your platelets to stick together. Platelet clumping is an important part of blood clotting, and part of the reason why fish oil lowers your risk of a heart attack and stroke is that it makes it harder for blood clots to form in the body. On the other hand, high intake of omega-3 fatty acids can cause your blood to get too thin, which can lead to an increased risk of hemorrhage and other bleeding problems.
Recommendations
If you take fish oil supplements, you should limit your intake of EPA and DHA to 3 g per day or less. Different types of fish oil vary in the amount of EPA and DHA they contain in each dose, so you will need to look at the label or talk to your doctor to determine how much is safe. Talk to your doctor before taking fish oil, particularly if you take Coumadin, aspirin or other drugs that thin the blood.
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