Recent Blog Articles

Easy ways to shop for healthful, cost-conscious foods

Prostate cancer in transgender women

Why eat lower on the seafood chain?

Can long COVID affect the gut?

When replenishing fluids, does milk beat water?

Safe, joyful movement for people of all weights

Slowing down racing thoughts

Are women turning to cannabis for menopause symptom relief?

3 ways to create community and counter loneliness

Helping children make friends: What parents can do
Heart Health
Omega-3 supplements may improve heart health
In the journals
Research continues to explore the possible benefits of omega-3 fish oil supplements, especially for heart health, and a recent review of existing data suggests they may protect against heart attack and coronary artery disease.
Researchers from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital examined 13 trials, involving almost 128,000 people, to look for any association between omega-3 supplements and the risk of heart attacks, strokes, coronary artery disease, and death from cardiovascular disease. Their results were published online Sept. 30, 2019, by the Journal of the American Heart Association.
The researchers found that compared with people who took a placebo, those who took daily omega-3 supplements had an 8% lower risk for heart attacks and death from coronary artery disease. (However, omega-3s did not lower the risk of stroke.) While the dose of omega-3s used in most of the trials was about 840 milligrams, the authors note that higher doses appeared to offer the most significant benefits.
Experts still recommend that people get their omega-3s from fatty fish like salmon, herring, and mackerel. (A 3-ounce serving of each offers between 0.5 grams and 1.2 grams of omega-3s.) But these findings show that supplements might be a viable alternative, especially for people who have trouble getting enough omega-3s from their daily diet. You should speak with your doctor about whether omega-3 supplements are right for you.
Image: anilakkus/Getty Images
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Free Healthbeat Signup
Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!