Recent updates

Examine Database update
minor

Examine Database: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Health Condition/Goal	Health Outcome	Evidence
Depression	3 outcomes	25 Studies
Pregnancy And Delivery Health	12 outcomes	25 Studies
Alzheimer’s Disease	1 outcome	1 Study
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	4 outcomes	1 Study
High Cholesterol	4 outcomes	32 Studies
Infertility	3 outcomes	1 Study
Obesity	4 outcomes	2 Studies
Type 2 Diabetes	6 outcomes	1 Study
Cardiovascular Disease	4 outcomes	1 Study
Heart Failure	2 outcomes	1 Study
Major Depressive Disorder	3 outcomes	1 Study
Mental Resilience	1 outcome	23 Studies
Metabolic Health	1 outcome	1 Study
Mood Improvement	1 outcome	1 Study
Overweight	4 outcomes	2 Studies
Peripheral Arterial Disease	2 outcomes	1 Study
Premature Birth	2 outcomes	1 Study
Uremic Pruritus	1 outcome	5 Studies

Depression

3 outcomes

Pregnancy And Delivery Health

12 outcomes

Alzheimer’s Disease

1 outcome

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

4 outcomes

4 outcomes

3 outcomes

4 outcomes

6 outcomes

Cardiovascular Disease

4 outcomes

Heart Failure

2 outcomes

Major Depressive Disorder

3 outcomes

1 outcome

1 outcome

1 outcome

4 outcomes

Peripheral Arterial Disease

2 outcomes

Premature Birth

2 outcomes

Uremic Pruritus

1 outcome

Depression

Pregnancy And Delivery Health

Alzheimer’s Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Cardiovascular Disease

Heart Failure

Major Depressive Disorder

Peripheral Arterial Disease

Premature Birth

Uremic Pruritus

Research FeedRead all studies

Omega-3 fatty acids may improve clinical and biochemical outcomes in adults with gastrointestinal cancer

In this umbrella review of 8 meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials in 7,188 participants (average ages of 57–65) with gastrointestinal cancer, omega-3 fatty acids improved clinical outcomes and inflammatory biomarkers and increased one biomarker of immunity.

Do omega-3s improve health during pregnancy?

Omega-3 fatty acids in the management of cognitive impairment

Supplemental EPA during head and neck cancer treatment

It’s too soon to tell whether omega-3s help with a type of peripheral polyneuropathy

Update History

Examine Database update
minor

A few new studies added
minor

Research written by

Daryl Nault

Reviewed by

Nick Milazzo

References

Examine Database References

Interleukin 6 - Ibrahim Mohialdeen Gubari MEffect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on markers of inflammation and endothelial function in patients with chronic heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand).(2024 Jun 30)
Anxiety Symptoms - Bafkar N, Zeraattalab-Motlagh S, Jayedi A, Shab-Bidar SEfficacy and safety of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation for anxiety symptoms: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.BMC Psychiatry.(2024 Jun 18)
Depression Symptoms - Appleton KM, Sallis HM, Perry R, Ness AR, Churchill ROmega-3 fatty acids for depression in adultsCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2015 Nov 5)
Depression Symptoms - Christos F Kelaiditis, E Leigh Gibson, Simon C DyallEffects of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on reducing anxiety and/or depression in adults; A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialsProstaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids.(2023 Apr 2)
Depression Symptoms - Kong L, Zhang Q, Wang H, Xu Y, Xu C, Chen Y, Lu J, Hu SExploration of the optimized portrait of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in treating depression: A meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials.J Affect Disord.(2025 Jun 15)
Depression Symptoms - Sarris J, Mischoulon D, Schweitzer IOmega-3 for bipolar disorder: meta-analyses of use in mania and bipolar depressionJ Clin Psychiatry.(2011 Aug 9)
Depression Symptoms - Katherine M Appleton, Philip D Voyias, Hannah M Sallis, Sarah Dawson, Andrew R Ness, Rachel Churchill, Rachel PerryOmega-3 fatty acids for depression in adultsCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2021 Nov 24)
Itching - Alqahtani S, Bakhamees BH, Almalki FM, Alshaer AB, Altaymani AF, Alazmi MM, Almutlaq KA, Albalawi AM, Alfaqih AA, Abdullah R, Alnashri AH, Ebrahim AM, Alghofaili JEfficacy and Safety of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Ameliorating Pruritus in Adult Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Cureus.(2024 Aug)
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) - Muzammil K, Khaleel AQ, Merza MS, Kyada A, Ariffin IA, Verma S, Kaur H, Hasaanzadeh SThe effects of ω-3 fatty acids on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials.Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat.(2024 Sep 5)
Cardiovascular Disease Mortality - Dwiputra B, Ambari AM, Desandri DR, Purwowiyoto BS, Radi B, Pandhita BAW, Fatrin S, Santoso AThe Effect of Omega-3 Supplementation on Heart Failure Outcome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trial.J Lipid Atheroscler.(2024 May)
Cognition - Kalamara TV, Dodos K, Georgakopoulou VE, Fotakopoulos G, Spandidos DA, Kapoukranidou DCognitive efficacy of omega‑3 fatty acids in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review and meta‑analysis.Biomed Rep.(2025 Apr)
Glycemic Control - Akinkuolie AO, Ngwa JS, Meigs JB, Djoussé LOmega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid and insulin sensitivity: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsClin Nutr.(2011 Sep 7)
Quality of Life - Yu H, Su X, Lei T, Zhang C, Zhang M, Wang Y, Zhu L, Liu JEffect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis.(2021 Sep 23)
Infant Death Risk - Serra R, Peñailillo R, Monteiro LJ, Monckeberg M, Peña M, Moyano L, Brunner C, Vega G, Choolani M, Illanes SESupplementation of Omega 3 during Pregnancy and the Risk of Preterm Birth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients.(2021-May-18)
Blood glucose - Saadh MJ, Sabah Ghnim Z, Salih Mahdi M, Baldaniya L, Karim SA, Srivastava M, Bhanot D, Rizaev J, Taher WM, Alwan M, Jawad MJ, Hamad AKThe effect of omega-3 supplementation on metabolic, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Nutr.(2025)
Total cholesterol - Khorshidi M, Hazaveh ZS, Alimohammadi-Kamalabadi M, Jamshidi S, Moghaddam OM, Olang B, Hatefi S, Hosseini A, Jamilian P, Zarezadeh M, Kohansal P, Heshmati J, Jamilian P, Sayyari AEffect of omega-3 supplementation on lipid profile in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Nutr J.(2023-Feb-10)
Anxiety Symptoms - Jahangard L, Sadeghi A, Ahmadpanah M, Holsboer-Trachsler E, Sadeghi Bahmani D, Haghighi M, Brand SInfluence of adjuvant omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids on depression, sleep, and emotion regulation among outpatients with major depressive disorders - Results from a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trialJ Psychiatr Res.(2018 Dec)
Muscle Mass - Alblaji M, Gray SR, Westrop S, Malkova DEffects of Long-Chain n-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation During Caloric Restriction on Body Composition in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Food Sci Nutr.(2025 Apr)
Sperm Count - Michaelsen MP, Poulsen M, Bjerregaard AA, Borgstrøm M, Poulsen LK, Chortsen MB, Henriksen SG, Kesmodel USThe Effect of Dietary Supplements on Male Infertility in Terms of Pregnancy, Live Birth, and Sperm Parameters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients.(2025 May 18)
Walking Ability - Dao TK, Nerlekar N, Nicholls SJ, Bubb KJThe effectiveness of intervention with omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexenoic acid in peripheral arterial disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis.(2025 Aug 30)

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Recent updates

Examine Database updateminor

Examine Database: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Research FeedRead all studies

Update History

Examine Database updateminor

A few new studies addedminor

References

Examine Database References

Research FeedRead all studies

Examine Database: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Examine Database References

Examine Database update
minor

Examine Database update
minor

A few new studies added
minor