Fish oil is a dietary supplement derived from the tissues of fatty fish. Fish oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, can reduce triglyceride levels and reduce the risk of heart attack and heart rate abnormalities. For seniors who are at increased risk for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and heart disease, the supplement may be especially beneficial.
Benefits for Seniors
Using fish oil supplements has been linked to improved cognition and may prevent or ease symptoms of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. In 2007, a study in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that EPA and DHA in fish oil improved mental abilities in men between the ages of 79 to 89. The same year, researchers from University of North Carolina found that in adults between the ages of 50 and 65, fish oil could slow verbal decline that occurs naturally with aging. In the study that analyzed cognitive function, volunteers who took 10 g of fish oil a day performed significantly better on test scores.
Considerations
Fish oil is known to enhance the effects of certain medications. In one 2004 case study published in the "Annals of Pharmacotherapy," a 67 year old woman taking the blood-thinning drug warfarin experienced increased anticoagulation effects when she took fish oil supplements. Taking fish oil with a beta-blocker, a medication used for treating high blood pressure, could have mild blood-pressure lowering properties. In 2005, a report published in the "Journal of Membrane Biology" found that taking fish oil supplements could reduce mortality in heart disease patients. Another study showed that taking fish oil resulted in a higher risk of death in patients not on a beta-blocker. While a lot of research is being done on the effects of combining fish oil with heart disease therapies, seniors, who make up a majority of cardiac patients, must use fish oil supplements with extreme caution and only under medical supervision.
Recommended Daily Intake
An appropriate dose of supplemental fish oil, especially for seniors who may be on other prescription medications, is a highly unique calculation that only your doctor should recommend. In 2006, "The New York Times" reported that in Europe, fish oil supplements are routinely prescribed to cardiac patients and their use is recommended in international guidelines. According to a review published in 2000 in the journal "Current Cardiology Reports," researchers gave a daily 1 g of the supplement to patients who had a heart attack. After three years, the number of deaths was reduced by 20 percent. Compared to a group not given the supplement, sudden deaths were reduced by 40 percent.
Considerations
Dr. Roger Harrison, a public health research scientist, suggests that the supplement could be a beneficial treatment for the general public. He explains that while eating more fish could increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids, 1 g is a lot to get from diet alone. In 2011, a study published in the "American College of Cardiology" found that taking a 1 g capsule containing 850 to 882 mg of EPA and DHA five times a day improved function in patients with mild-to-moderate chronic heart failure.
References
- Trial on Fish Oil and Vitamin E Supplementation in Myocardial Infarction Survivors; NJ Stone; September 2000
- "The New York Times"; In Europe, It's Fish Oil After Heart Attacks, But Not in the U.S.; October 2006
- Medpage Today: Fish Oil has Benefits in Heart Failure; January 2007
- MayoClinic.com: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fish Oil, Alpha-Linolenic Acid; April 2011
- Reuters: Fish Oil May Preserve Thinking Ability in Elderly; April 2007
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Plasma n-3 Fatty Acids and the Risk of Cognitive Decline in Older Adults; MA Beydoun; April 2007
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