To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you.

If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices.

You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. This content does not have an English version.

This content does not have an Arabic version. Appointments at Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations. Request Appointment. Fish oil.

Products and services. Fish oil By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for subscribing! Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Show references Fish oil. Natural Medicines. Accessed Nov. Omega-3 supplements: In depth. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

Omega-3 fatty acids natural products database. Tangney CC, et al. Lipid management with diet or dietary supplements. Bonow RO, et al. Integrative approaches to the management of patients with heart disease.

In: Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. Elsevier; Gutiérrez S, Svahn S, Johansson M. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on immune cells. Int J Mol Sci. By Cathy Wong Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health.

Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance.

Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. Heart Health. High Blood Pressure. Living With. By Cathy Wong. Medically reviewed by Yasmine S.

Ali, MD, MSCI. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. See Our Editorial Process.

In most of the studies, participants took supplements of natural fish oil, algae oil or purified fish oil ethyl esters a prescription fish oil. In other trials, fish e.

Overall, a daily intake of 3 g of omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA combined , whether from diet, supplements or both, was associated with the greatest reduction in blood pressure, albeit a modest one.

Stronger effects were seen in people who had untreated hypertension and in those over 45 years of age. Among those with high blood pressure, systolic blood pressure decreased an average of 4. An important point: the analysis excluded trials in which participants were taking blood pressure medication.

The effect of omega-3 fats may be less pronounced in people on treatment for hypertension. Consider that five ounces of cooked Atlantic salmon, 11 ounces of cooked trout, 11 ounces of canned sardines, 7.

A daily intake of 3 g can be achieved by taking a high potency omega-3 supplement or by a combination of supplements and fish meals. High potency supplements generally contain 1, to 1, mg DHA and EPA per dose. Consult your health care provider to determine if supplementing with omega-3s is right for you.

If you have hypertension, implementing the following diet strategies can have a substantial effect on lowering blood pressure.

Adopt the DASH diet: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension DASH diet has been proven to have a potent effect on treating elevated blood pressure.

Hallmark foods include fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, beans and lentils and nuts. These foods are excellent sources of potassium, calcium and magnesium, minerals that help regulate blood pressure. The DASH diet is also low in refined grains and saturated fat; too much of both can elevate blood pressure.

Reduce sodium: The DASH-Sodium trial, published in , showed that the DASH diet produced even greater reductions in blood pressure when daily sodium intake was restricted to less than 2, mg.

If you have high blood pressure, the Canadian Hypertension Society advises limiting daily sodium intake to mg. According to Health Canada, commercial bakery products, mixed dishes, processed meats, cheese, sauces and condiments contribute at least half of the sodium Canadians consume.

To reduce sodium, read nutrition labels to compare products for sodium and eat home-prepared meals most often. Lose excess weight: If overweight, studies show that losing even 10 pounds can lower blood pressure and reduce the need for medication.

A nonsignificant decrease in blood pressure was observed in four studies of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease Variations in the length of treatment from 3 to 24 weeks , type of placebo, and study design crossover or parallel groups did not appear to account for inconsistent findings among studies.

Conclusions: There is a dose-response effect of fish oil on blood pressure of The hypotensive effect may be strongest in hypertensive subjects and those with clinical atherosclerotic disease or hypercholesterolemia. Abstract Background: In a meta-analysis of 31 placebo-controlled trials on subjects, we examined the effect of omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil on blood pressure by grouping studies that were similar in fish oil dose, length of treatment, health of the subjects, or study design.

Publication types Meta-Analysis Research Support, U. Gov't, P. Research suggests that people with lower omega-6 to omega-3 ratios have a reduced risk for such conditions as diabetes and heart disease.

Alexander , PhD, MSPH, senior author of the meta-analysis. For example, a paper published in Circulation reports that in a very large international study called INTERSALT, conducted across 32 countries, each 2 mm Hg drop in systolic blood pressure SBP reduced coronary mortality by 4 percent, stroke death by 6 percent, and total mortality by 3 percent.

The Circulation paper also calculated that among Americans ages 45 to 64, a three percent decrease in mortality corresponding to a 2 mm Hg drop in population SBP would mean 12, fewer deaths annually in that age group, while a 4 percent reduction in mortality associated with 3 mm Hg lower SBP would save about 16, American lives a year.

The meta-analysis reported the following reductions in SBP among study participants with untreated hypertension associated with these lifestyle interventions:. The meta-analysis also found that among all participants who received omega-3s, through supplements such as fish oil, the average decrease in systolic pressure was 1.

Alexander noted that a 1.

C-reactive protein, inflammation and coronary heart disease. Egypt Heart J ; 67 : 89 — Muka T et al. Polyunsaturated fatty acids and serum C-reactive protein: the Rotterdam Study. Am J Epidemiol ; : — Calder PC. Docasahexaenoic acid. Ann Nutr Metab ; 69 : 8 — Richardson AJ et al.

Docosahexaenoic acid for reading, cognition and behavior in children aged 7—9 years: a randomized, controlled trial The DOLAB Study. PLoS ONE ; 7 : e O'Sullivan TA et al. Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and blood pressure in adolescents.

J Hum Hypertens ; 26 : — Sheehan MC et al. Global methylmercury exposure from seafood consumption and risk of developmental neurotoxicity: a systematic review.

Bull World Health Organ ; 92 : — F. Hong Y-S et al. Methylmercury exposure and health effects. J Prev Med Public Health ; 45 : — American Heart Association. Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. WYuU7XeGN0s accessed 24 April All About Heart Rate Pulse. WDJ0y5MrKb8 accessed 24 April Wang X et al.

One minute of marijuana secondhand smoke exposure substantially impairs vascular endothelial function. J Am Heart Assoc ; 5 : pii: e Poirier P et al. Obesity and cardiovascular disease: pathophysiology, evaluation, and effect of weight loss.

Circulation ; : — Iwahori T et al. Time to consider use of the sodium-to-potassium ratio for practical sodium reduction and potassium increase. Nutrients ; 9 : Mayet J , Hughes A.

Cardiac and vascular pathophysiology in hypertension. Heart ; 89 : — Iadecola C , Davisson RL. Hypertension and cerebrovascular dysfunction. Cell Metab ; 7 : — Mendoza A , Lazartigues E.

The compensatory renin-angiotensin system in the central regulation of arterial pressure: new avenues and new challenges. Ther Adv Cardiovasc Dis ; 9 : — Types of Blood Pressure Medications. WmZmS5M-efU accessed 22 January Hermida RC et al.

Hypertension: new perspective on its definition and clinical management by bedtime therapy substantially reduces cardiovascular disease risk.

Eur J Clin Invest ; e Whelton PK et al. Primary prevention of hypertension: clinical and public health advisory from The National High Blood Pressure Education Program.

JAMA ; : — Cook NR et al. Implications of small reductions in diastolic blood pressure for primary prevention.

Arch Intern Med ; : — Lewington S et al. Age-specific relevance of usual blood pressure to vascular mortality: a meta-analysis of individual data for one million adults in 61 prospective studies.

Lancet ; : — Vasan RS et al. Impact of high-normal blood pressure on the risk of cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med ; : — Karcher EL et al. Comparison of supplementation of n-3 fatty acids from fish and flax oil on cytokine gene expression and growth of milk-fed Holstein calves.

J Dairy Sci ; 97 : — Zibaeenezhad MJ et al. Comparison of the effect of omega-3 supplements and fresh fish on lipid profile: a randomized, open-labeled trial. Nutr Diabetes ; 7 : 1.

Cabo J et al. Omega-3 fatty acids and blood pressure. Br J Nutr ; : S — S Bang HO et al. The composition of the Eskimo food in north western Greenland.

Am J Clin Nutr ; 33 : — Engler MM et al. Effects of docosahexaenoic acid on vascular pathology and reactivity in hypertension. Exp Biol Med ; : — Davis JO et al. The role of the renin-angiotensin system in the control of aldosterone secretion. J Clin Invest ; 41 : — Lemarie CA et al. Aldosterone-induced activation of signaling pathways requires activity of angiotensin type 1a receptors.

Circ Res ; : — Docosahexaenoic acid is an antihypertensive nutrient that affects aldosterone production in SHR. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med ; 22 : 32 — Imig JD. Targeting epoxides for organ damage in hypertension.

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol ; 56 : — Borghi C et al. Role of the renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system and its pharmacological inhibitors in cardiovascular diseases: complex and critical issues.

High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev ; 22 : — Dandona P et al. Angiotensin II and inflammation: the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and angiotensin II receptor blockade. J Hum Hypertens ; 21 : 20 — Kortekaas KE et al.

ACE inhibitors potently reduce vascular inflammation, results of an open proof-of-concept study in the abdominal aortic aneurysm. PLoS ONE ; 9 : e Borghi C , Cicero AFG. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: their potential role in blood pressure prevention and management. Heart Int ; 2 : Ulu A et al.

Anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors in angiotensin-II dependent hypertension. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol ; 62 : — Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory processes: nutrition or pharmacology?

Br J Clin Pharmacol ; 75 : — Nilsson A et al. Effects of supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on cognitive performance and cardiometabolic risk markers in healthy 51 to 72 years old subjects: a randomized controlled cross-over study.

Nutr J ; 11 : Del Brutto OH et al. Dietary oily fish intake and blood pressure levels: a population-based study. J Clin Hypertens ; 18 : — Miller PE et al. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid and blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Am J Hypertens ; 27 : — Mori TA et al. Docosahexaenoic acid but not eicosapentaenoic acid lowers ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate in humans. Hypertension ; 34 : — Ueshima H et al. Food omega-3 fatty acid intake of individuals total, linolenic acid, long-chain and their blood pressure INTERMAP study.

Hypertension ; 50 : — Skulas-Ray AC et al. Effects of marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids on systemic hemodynamics at rest and during stress: a dose—response study. Ann Behav Med ; 44 : — Shantakumari N et al.

Effect of PUFA on patients with hypertension: a hospital based study. Indian Heart J ; 66 : — Rosa ML. Can purified omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation act blood pressure levels in untreated normal-high blood pressure subjects with hypertriglyceridemia?

Pharmacol Pharm ; 3 : — Campbell F et al. A systematic review of fish-oil supplements for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Eur J Prev Cardiol ; 20 : — Shen T et al. Lipids Health Dis ; 16 : Appel LJ et al. A meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials.

Mozaffarian D , Wu JH. Omega-3 Fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: effects on risk factors, molecular pathways, and clinical events.

J Am Coll Cardiol ; 58 : — Lavie CJ et al. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and cardiovascular diseases. J Am Coll Cardiol ; 54 : — Yancy CW et al. J Am Coll Cardiol ; 62 : e — e Department of Health and Human Services, U. Department of Agriculture. Piepoli MF et al. Atherosclerosis ; : — Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford.

It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Sign In or Create an Account. Navbar Search Filter Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research This issue Royal Pharmaceutical Society Journals Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Pharmacology Books Journals Oxford Academic Mobile Enter search term Search.

Issues Submit Author Guidelines Submission Site Why publish with JPHSR? Royal Pharmaceutical Society Journals. Advanced Search. Search Menu. Article Navigation. Close mobile search navigation Article Navigation. Volume Article Contents Abstract. Clinical studies of omega-3 fatty acids and blood pressure.

Health policy. Journal Article. The relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and blood pressure. Christy Abraham , Christy Abraham. Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Nova Southeastern University. Correspondence : Christy Abraham, Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL , USA.

E-mail: ca mynsu. Oxford Academic. Robert C Speth. College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University. PDF Split View Views. Select Format Select format. ris Mendeley, Papers, Zotero. enw EndNote. bibtex BibTex. txt Medlars, RefWorks Download citation.

Permissions Icon Permissions. Close Navbar Search Filter Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research This issue Royal Pharmaceutical Society Journals Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Pharmacology Books Journals Oxford Academic Enter search term Search.

Abstract Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that play a critical role in the human body. health policy , outcomes research. Figure 1. Open in new tab Download slide. Table 1 Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and their effects on cardiovascular measurements.

Systolic blood pressure Significant decrease 31 , 44—46 , 50—52 , 54 Insignificant decrease 48 , 52—54 Diastolic blood pressure Significant decrease 46 , 51—54 Insignificant decrease 48 , 50 , 52 , 54 No change 45 Plasma triacylglyceride Significant decrease 44 Ambulatory blood pressure Significant decrease 47 Mean arterial pressure Significant decrease 49 Heart rate Significant decrease 49 Pulse pressure Significant decrease 51 Basal heart rate Significant decrease 51 Total cholesterol Significant decrease 53 Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol Significant decrease 53 High-density lipoprotein cholesterol Significant increase Studies of hypertensive populations are indicated in bold.

Open in new tab. Google Scholar PubMed. OpenURL Placeholder Text. Google Scholar Crossref. Search ADS. Google Scholar OpenURL Placeholder Text. Del Brutto. Issue Section:. Download all slides. Views More metrics information.

Total Views Month: Total Views: January 1 February 8 March 3 April 2 May 4 June 21 July 3 August 3 September 8 October 7 November 8 December 12 January 14 February 15 March 26 April 26 May 14 June 19 July 30 August 20 September 30 October 5 November 5 December 8 January 13 February 5 March 19 April 8 May 11 June 18 July 14 August 15 September 20 October 18 November 21 December 32 January 18 February Email alerts Article activity alert.

New issue alert. In progress issue alert. Receive exclusive offers and updates from Oxford Academic. Citing articles via Web of Science 2. A population-based study in Brazil. Self-perceived leadership and entrepreneurship skills: profiling healthcare professionals.

Measuring the knowledge and perception of Jordanian health science students towards self-prescribed medications: a descriptive analysis study. Outcomes of pharmacy facility inspections: implications on pharmaceutical services.

More from Oxford Academic. Clinical Medicine. Additionally, splitting your dose into a few smaller portions throughout the day may help eliminate indigestion.

Summary Fish oil is high in fat and may cause acid reflux symptoms such as belching, nausea, indigestion and heartburn in some people.

Hemorrhagic stroke is a condition characterized by bleeding in the brain, usually caused by the rupture of weakened blood vessels.

These findings are also consistent with other research showing that fish oil could inhibit blood clot formation However, other studies have turned up mixed results, reporting that there is no association between fish and fish oil intake and hemorrhagic stroke risk 18 , Further human studies should be conducted to determine how omega-3 fatty acids may impact the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

Summary Some animal studies have found that a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids could increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke while other human studies have found no association. Certain types of omega-3 fatty acid supplements are high in vitamin A, which can be toxic if consumed in large amounts.

Vitamin A toxicity can cause side effects such as dizziness, nausea, joint pain and skin irritation Long term, it could also lead to liver damage and even liver failure in severe cases Summary Certain types of omega-3 fatty acid supplements, such as cod liver oil, are high in vitamin A, which can be toxic in large amounts.

One study of children, for instance, showed that taking mg of omega-3 fatty acids daily for 16 weeks helped improve sleep quality In some cases, though, taking too much fish oil may actually interfere with sleep and contribute to insomnia.

In one case study, it was reported that taking a high dose of fish oil worsened symptoms of insomnia and anxiety for a patient with a history of depression More research is needed to understand how large doses may affect sleep quality in the general population.

Summary Although moderate doses of fish oil have been shown to improve sleep quality, one case study suggests that taking large amounts caused insomnia. Although recommendations can vary widely, most health organizations recommend an intake of at least — milligrams of combined EPA and DHA , or 2 servings of fatty fish per week 25 , 26 , 27 , However, a higher amount is often recommended for people with certain health conditions, such as heart disease or high triglyceride levels 29 , For reference, a typical 1,mg fish oil softgel generally contains about mg of combined EPA and DHA, while one teaspoon 5 ml of liquid fish oil packs in around 1, mg.

According to the European Food Safety Authority, omega-3 fatty acid supplements can be safely consumed at doses up to 5, mg daily As a general rule of thumb, if you experience any negative symptoms, simply decrease your intake or consider meeting your omega-3 fatty acid needs through food sources instead.

Summary Up to 5, mg of omega-3 fatty acids per day is considered safe. If you experience any negative symptoms, decrease your intake or switch to food sources instead. Omega-3 is an essential part of the diet and supplements like fish oil have been associated with a number of health benefits.

However, consuming too much fish oil could actually take a toll on your health and lead to side effects such as high blood sugar and an increased risk of bleeding. Stick to the recommended dosage and aim to get the majority of your omega-3 fatty acids from whole food sources to get the most nutritional gain.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. This article discusses how much fish oil you should…. Here are 11 science-based benefits of taking fish oil.

It is rich in omega-3 fats that are very important for your body and brain. Fish oil is an omega-3 fatty acid supplement that has been linked to a number of health benefits. This article takes a closer look at when you should…. Coconut oil is a common home remedy for constipation.

Here's a look at how it works and how to use it. Omega-3 needs vary by individual. This article reviews how much omega-3 you need for optimal health.

Omega-3 fatty acids are incredibly important for your body and brain. This article lists 17 science-based health benefits of omega-3s. MindBodyGreen provides third-party-tested supplements made with high quality ingredients. Our testers and dietitians discuss whether MindBodyGreen….

A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based 8 Little-Known Side Effects of Too Much Fish Oil.

Medically reviewed by Amy Richter, RD , Nutrition — By Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD — Updated on May 31, High Blood Sugar. Share on Pinterest.