Fish Oil: Finally Some Solid Answers

Health Tips / Fish Oil: Finally Some Solid Answers

In the 1970s, epidemiologic studies discovered that Inuit (the indigenous people of the Arctic regions Canada, Alaska, and Greenland), whose diet was extremely rich in fish, had a much lower rate of heart disease than Americans and Europeans. Scientists attributed this to the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in fish, which seemed to protect and stabilize the delicate membranes that surround every cell in the body, especially those in the heart and brain. Later studies, which tracked fish consumption per capita against development of heart disease and fatal heart attacks, showed the Japanese, who eat far more fish than Americans and Europeans, also enjoyed a lower rate of heart disease deaths.

Now it’s 40 years later and fish oil is the top-selling nutritional supplement in the Western world. Unless you are a strict vegetarian, if you’re reading this Health Tip you most likely take (or at least own) a bottle of fish oil capsules. Many of you have told me you buy them but, because of the unpleasant fish-burp, let them sit in your vitamin graveyard gathering dust.

Unfortunately, the many research studies that followed the earliest ones were not particularly dramatic. They attempted to see if daily fish oil capsules provided the same heart protection enjoyed by the blubber-chewing Inuit or sushi-eating Japanese, but the conclusions were variations of “Yeah, maybe, not sure really, won’t hurt.”

Everyone did agree, however, that collecting data for meaningful studies was problematic, especially for a condition like heart disease that involves a constellation of variables beyond fish consumption. You had to factor in exercise, diet, tobacco use, blood pressure, and family history as well as what fish had been eaten and how was it prepared. Moreover, as the studies progressed, researchers noted two things. First, that people taking fish oil supplements took better care of their overall health and, second, that people who ate a lot of fish didn’t get further heart benefits by pushing up their blood levels of omega-3 by taking fish oil capsules.

Even if a person never supplemented with fish oil, if she had a good amount of omega-3 in her blood from her diet she was well protected from early heart disease.

Many of these studies were also flawed because people as a rule don’t accurately remember what they’ve eaten. Those reporting “I eat fish once a week” would, when they kept an actual food diary, turn out to have actually eaten fish just once a month. It turned out that huge numbers of both Americans and Europeans virtually never ate any fish, or limited themselves to deep-fried versions (deep frying reduces the omega-3 content by 85%). It was in this virtually omega-3-free group that regularly taken fish oil capsules might have some meaning.

Just last month, an immense analysis of previously collected data was published in the June issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, and it finally puts the fish oil matter to rest. Researchers reviewed 19 epidemiologic studies from 16 countries, a total of 45,637 individuals, to determine if fish oil actually makes a difference in health and longevity.

The answer is yes

If you eat non-deep-fried, oily fish two or three times a week, you probably have levels of omega-3 in your blood high enough to protect you from a fatal heart attack. If you don’t eat this amount, then a couple of high-quality fish oil supplements taken daily will cover you.

However, it’s definitely important to differentiate “fatal heart attack” from “heart disease.”

When someone dies of a heart attack, either on the street or within a few days of arriving in the hospital, the killer is usually a major disturbance of heart rhythm (called an arrhythmia), either ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). With VT, the person might get warning signs, like lightheadedness, palpitations, and shortness of breath. These occur because the affected person feels her heart rhythm change and the output of blood from her heart suddenly drop. VF, on the other hand, unless quickly converted to a normal rhythm, is fatal. With VF, there’s no blood being pumped from the heart and the person quickly loses consciousness and dies.

Fish oil, which increases omega-3 blood levels, protects against fatal arrhythmias. Chronic coronary heart disease (CHD) is a much slower process. It’s with CHD that you may experience chest pain with exertion (angina), shortness of breath (congestive heart failure), and other heart rhythm abnormalities (such as atrial fibrillation). These are called benign arrhythmias because they’re rarely associated with sudden death.

Boosting omega-3s with fish oil may be helpful, but the stats aren’t dramatic

Here’s a summary of what we know about fish oil and heart disease:

  • If you eat oily fish regularly, you’ll enjoy statistically significant protection from a fatal (arrhythmia-induced) heart attack.
  • If you’re not a fish eater, you’ll enjoy the same protection by taking fish oil as a nutritional supplement.
  • Fish oil prevents arrhythmias by strengthening the membranes surrounding your heart’s cells. Weak membranes predispose you to rhythm abnormalities. In autopsy studies, the cell membranes from Japanese hearts were thicker and stronger than those of Americans and Europeans.
  • Fish oil is also helpful for its anti-inflammatory properties. High levels of inflammation in your body are linked to chronic heart disease, diabetes, macular degeneration, and autoimmune disorders. Eating fish or taking fish oil capsules is probably (repeat, probably, not fully proven) helpful.
  • Fish oil can be fractionated to isolate its separate clinical benefits. One particular fraction, called specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM), can be used as a potent anti-inflammatory alternative to the NSAIDs, like Aleve or Advil, but without the side effects. SPM Fish Oil is made by Metagenics and is available in our apothecary.
  • Remember, however, that when it comes to preventing chronic heart disease, taking fish oil is less useful than making healthy lifestyle choices. For this, you’ll need to keep your weight in check, be physically active, not smoke, eat a high-nutrient diet (including lots of colorful vegetables and good fats), and drastically cut your sugar intake.
  • Allay your concerns about mercury by heeding this advice from the National Resources Defense Council: Avoid a few key species. King mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, swordfish, tilefish, ahi tuna, and bigeye tuna all contain high levels of mercury. Women who are pregnant or nursing or who plan to become pregnant within a year should avoid eating these fish. So should children younger than six. (Also, farmed salmon may contain PCBs, chemicals with serious long-term health effects.)
  • When it comes to selecting a fish oil, like buying paint or tires you’ll get what you pay for. The low-priced generics are often accompanied by the unpleasant fish-burp. I recommend any of the fish oil products manufactured by Integrative Therapeutics, Metagenics, or OrthoMolecular.

Be well,
David Edelberg, MD

13 thoughts on “Fish Oil: Finally Some Solid Answers

    Hi All
    Flax and chia are good sources but studies re effectiveness have not been run
    The prostate cancer link is very if-fy. There’s not enough solid evidence for a warning
    I think the best fish for omega 3 is organic farmed salmon. Eventually we will have to rely on farmed fish but according to reports, the omega 3 contents are the same as wild caught. See link
    https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/finding-omega-3-fats-in-fish-farmed-versus-wild-201512238909

    Dr E
    Posted July 28, 2016 at 9:21 am

    Thanks for shedding more light on the big fish oil question. And which fish are high in Mercury!

    Most importantly, thanks to our God and good Medical practitioners who saved your life in May. I saw you just a few days before your fall. Please take good care of yourself. See you in December.
    Frances Davis, Port Orange, Florida

    Frances Davis
    Posted July 27, 2016 at 10:07 pm

    Hi Dr. E,

    Thanks for your informative and entertaining blogs.
    I read that having large amounts(?) of omega 3’s in the blood stream could increase chances of prostate cancer.
    Given that you don’t mention that here, I suspect it was not from a valid source but thought I’d ask.
    Thanks

    Jim Stephens
    Posted July 27, 2016 at 1:05 pm

    As a vegetarian, I supplement my diet with Chia and Flax seeds to boost my omega-3 levels. Anything in this study about the effectiveness of a plant-based alternative? Statistically, a couple tablespoons of Chia with my daily cereal in the morning gives me huge amounts of omega-3 … and it’s quite tasty 🙂

    Bernie
    Posted July 26, 2016 at 3:23 pm

    Interesting article, but are there any studies for those of us that are allergic to fish and get our omega-3 via a supplement that uses a natural plant source of algae? Supposedly that is where the fish get their omega-3, so why not bypass the intermediary? Also, I don’t get fish burp 🙂

    Robert Radycki
    Posted July 26, 2016 at 2:33 pm

    I cannot eat fish (high histamines) so rely on fish oil capsules (4 Standard Process Tuna Omega-3) and find they make a big difference in the flexibility of my knees. However my PA has warned me about the rancidity of many capsules, she prefers the straight oil (Carlson’s lemon-flavored) but I can’t bear the oil–so far I (also sensitive to rancidity) am good with these.

    carol diehl
    Posted July 26, 2016 at 11:52 am

    Thanks this was very useful. Two quick questions.
    Is there a vegetarian fish oil supplement? (The oceans are over fished already). Also, does it matter how much EPA versus DHA is in it to gain heart benefits, and if so, is it the same ratio that will help with mood? Sorry, that might be three questions.

    M. Curie
    Posted July 26, 2016 at 11:35 am

    Can you specify the best fish to eat? Thank you.

    Beth
    Posted July 26, 2016 at 8:21 am

      Beth. Try eating wild caught salmon, mackerel, and sardines.

      Dr. R
      Posted July 28, 2016 at 7:32 am

    Fish stocks are dwindling – overfishing harms the environment and many other non-target species are killed as well. Surely it’s possible to get omegas 3 from a source that doesn’t harm the environment as much.

    Pam Whitehead
    Posted July 26, 2016 at 7:22 am

    How effective is fish oil in preventing Alzheimers?

    Carol Steiner
    Posted July 25, 2016 at 8:08 am

      A recent small-scale study involved individuals with noted mild clinical impairment reports a reduction in amyloid-beta protein build up and brain inflammation. This is just one piece of a much more comprehensive approach in dealing with dementias.

      Dr. R
      Posted July 28, 2016 at 8:03 am

    From the viewpoint of the fish community, who value their life as much as we value ours. and want to live out their life full measure, fish oil definitely shortens their life. A high fiber plant based diet will avoid heart disease and give you the best chances of not only attaining old age, but enjoying it. Without the expense and moral implications of fish hooks and nets.

    David Tenenbaum
    Posted July 25, 2016 at 6:52 am

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *