Fish oil is best known for its ability to reduce triglyceride levels in the blood, for which prescription fish oil is best studied.[1] Fish oil also seems to modestly reduce blood pressure, especially in people with hypertension.[2] Despite this, a meta-analysis of large clinical trials shows that taking fish oil for at least 1 year does not reduce the rate of cardiovascular events.[3] Most analyses suggest a modest benefit of fish oil for depression,[4][5][6][7] but this benefit may be too small to make a difference in people with major depressive disorder.[6][8] Limited evidence suggests that fish oil may have some benefit for inflammatory conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.[9]
What are fish oil’s main benefits?
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•Last Updated: October 13, 2024