Introduction

Fish oil is a nutrient found in many types of fish. It is high in omega-3-fatty-acids and fat that the body needs for heart health. Fish oil has been used to improve organ function, lower fat levels in the blood, and lower body fat levels. Fish oil can be taken as a pill or oil.

Dosages

3 to 5 grams daily

What Research Shows

Likely Effective

May Be Effective

May Not Be Effective

Unlikely to Be Effective

Not Enough Data to Assess

Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.

Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.

Safety Notes

It is likely safe to take fish oil in small doses for a short time, but diarrhea and digestive upset are possible. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to take for a long period. EE1

Interactions

Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.

References

REFA Age-Related Macular Degeneration

REFA1 Lawrenson JG, Evans JR. Omega 3 fatty acids for preventing or slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Apr 9;(4):CD010015.

REFB Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

REFB1 Fitzgerald KC, O'Reilly ÉJ, et al. Dietary ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. JAMA Neurol. 2014 Sep;71(9):1102-1110.

REFC Asthma

REFC1 Woods RK, Thien FC, et al. Dietary marine fatty acids (fish oil) for asthma in adults and children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(3):CD001283.

REFD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

REFD1 Chang JP, Su KP, et al. Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Youths with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials and Biological Studies. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018 Feb;43(3):534-545.

REFE Chronic Kidney Disease

REFE1 Hu J, Liu Z, et al. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of chronic kidney disease: a meta-analysis. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2017 Jan 1;72(1):58-64.

REFF Cognitive Decline

REFF1 Butler M, Nelson VA, et al. Over-the-Counter Supplement Interventions to Prevent Cognitive Decline, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Clinical Alzheimer-Type Dementia: A Systematic Review. Ann Intern Med. 2018 Jan 2;168(1):52-62.

REFG Crohn Disease

REFG1 Turner D, Zlotkin SH, et al. Omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) for maintenance of remission in Crohn’s disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(2):CD006320.

REFH Cystic Fibrosis

REFH1 Oliver C, Watson H. Omega-3 fatty acids for cystic fibrosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Jan 5;(1):CD002201.

REFI Dementia

REFI1 Burckhardt M, Herke M, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids for the treatment of dementia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Apr 11;4:CD009002.

REFI2 Canhada S, Castro K, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids' supplementation in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review. Nutr Neurosci. 2018 Oct;21(8):529-538.

REFJ Depression

REFJ1 Appleton KM, Sallis HM, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids for depression in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Nov 5;(11):CD004692.

REFJ2 Appleton KM, Sallis HM, et al. ω-3 Fatty acids for major depressive disorder in adults: an abridged Cochrane review. BMJ Open. 2016 Mar 2;6(3):e010172.

REFJ3 Mocking RJ, Harmsen I, et al. Meta-analysis and meta-regression of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for major depressive disorder. Transl Psychiatry. 2016 Mar 15;6:e756.

REFJ4 Sarris J, Murphy J, et al. Adjunctive Nutraceuticals for Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses. Am J Psychiatry. 2016 Jun 1;173(6):575-587.

REFJ5 Schefft C, Kilarski LL, et al. Efficacy of adding nutritional supplements in unipolar depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017 Nov;27(11):1090-1109.

REFJ6 Bae JH, Kim G. Systematic review and meta-analysis of omega-3-fatty acids in elderly patients with depression. Nutr Res. 2018 Feb;50:1-9.

REFJ7 Bai ZG, Bo A, et al. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and reduction of depressive symptoms in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2018 Dec 1;241:241-248.

REFK Diabetes

REFK1 Chen C, Yu X, et al. Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Glucose Control and Lipid Levels in Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 2;10(10):e0139565.

REFL Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

REFL1 Sarmento Vasconcelos V, Macedo CR, et al. Polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for drug-resistant epilepsy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Aug 17;(8):CD011014.

REFM Dry Eye

REFM1 Molina-Leyva I, Molina-Leyva A, et al. Efficacy of nutritional supplementation with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in dry eye syndrome: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Acta Ophthalmol. 2017 Dec;95(8):e677-e685.

REFM2 Giannaccare G, Pellegrini M, et al. Efficacy of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for Treatment of Dry Eye Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Cornea. 2019 May;38(5):565-573.

REFN Dysmenorrhea

REFN1 Pattanittum P, Kunyanone N, et al. Dietary supplements for dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Mar 22;3:CD002124.

REFO Early and Pre-term Delivery

REFO1 Kar S, Wong M, et al. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids in prevention of early preterm delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2016 Mar;198:40-46.

REFP Heart Attack

REFP1 Burr ML, Fehily AM, et al. Effects of changes in fat, fish, and fibre intakes on death and myocardial infraction: diet and reinfarction trial (DART). Lancet. 1989;2(8666):757-761.

REFQ Heart Disease

REFQ1 Alexander DD, Miller PE, et al. A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials and Prospective Cohort Studies of Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Coronary Heart Disease Risk. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Jan;92(1):15-29.

REFQ2 AbuMweis S, Jew S, et al. Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid containing supplements modulate risk factors for cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of randomised placebo-control human clinical trials. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2018 Feb;31(1):67-84.

REFQ3 Abdelhamid AS, Brown TJ, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Nov 30;11:CD003177.

REFR Heart Failure

REFR1 Wang C, Xiong B, et al. The Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2016 Dec 30;9(1). pii: E18.

REFS Hyperlipidemia

REFS1 Eslick GD, Howe PR, et al. Benefits of fish oil supplementation on hyperlipidemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Cardiol. 2009;136(1):4-16.

REFT Infant Support

REFT1 Jasani B, Simmer K, et al. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in infants born at term. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Mar 10;3:CD000376.

REFT2 Shulkin M, Pimpin L, et al. n-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Mothers, Preterm Infants, and Term Infants and Childhood Psychomotor and Visual Development: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Nutr. 2018 Mar 1;148(3):409-418.

REFU Insulin Sensitivity

REFU1 Gao H, Geng T, et al. Fish oil supplementation and insulin sensitivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lipids Health Dis. 2017 Jul 3;16(1):131.

REFV Kidney Failure

REFV1 Lim AK, Manley KJ, et al. Fish oil for kidney transplant recipients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;(8):CD005282.

REFW Liver Failure

REFW1 Zhu W, Dong C, et al. Effects of fish oil on serum lipid profile in dialysis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Lipids Health Dis. 2014;13:127.

REFX Migraine

REFX1 Maghsoumi-Norouzabad L, Mansoori A, et al. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the frequency, severity, and duration of migraine attacks: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutr Neurosci. 2018 Nov;21(9):614-623.

REFY Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

REFY1 He XX, Wu XL, et al. Effectiveness of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. PLoS One. 2016 Oct 6;11(10):e0162368.

REFY2 Yan JH, Guan BJ, et al. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Sep;97(37):e12271.

REFZ Obesity

REFZ1 Bender N, Portmann M, et al. Fish or n3-PUFA intake and body composition: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2014 Aug;15(8):657-665.

REFZ2 Du S, Jin J, et al. Does Fish Oil Have and Anti-Obesity Effect in Overweight/Obese Adults? A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. PLoS One. 2015;10(11):e0142652.

REFZ3 Zhang YY, Liu W, et al. Efficacy of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Supplementation in Managing Overweight and Obesity: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. J Nutr Health Aging. 2017;21(2):187-192.

REFAA Pregnancy Support

REFAA1 Gunaratne AW, Makrides M, et al. Maternal prenatal and/or postnatal n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) supplementation for preventing allergies in early childhood. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Jul 22;(7):CD010085.

REFAA2 Chen B, Ji X, et al. Fish oil supplementation improves pregnancy outcomes and size of the newborn: a meta-analysis of 21 randomized controlled trials. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016;29(12):2017-2027.

REFAA3 Saccone G, Saccone I, et al. Omega-3-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and fish oil supplementation during pregnancy: which evidence? J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016;29(15):2389-2397.

REFAA4 Freedman R, Hunter SK, et al. Prenatal Primary Prevention of Mental Illness by Micronutrient Supplements in Pregnancy. Am J Psychiatry. 2018 Jul 1;175(7):607-619.

REFAA5 Middleton P, Gomersall JC, et al. Omega-3 fatty acid addition during pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Nov 15;11:CD003402.

REFBB Psoriasis

REFBB1 Upala S, Yong WC, et al. Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on disease severity in patients with psoriasis: A systematic review. Int J Rheum Dis. 2017 Apr;20(4):442-450.

REFBB2 Clark CCT, Taghizadeh M, et al. Efficacy of ω-3 supplementation in patients with psoriasis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Rheumatol. 2019 Apr;38(4):977-988.

REFCC Psychosis

REFCC1 Firth J, Rosenbaum S, et al. Adjunctive nutrients in first-episode psychosis: A systematic review of efficacy, tolerability and neurobiological mechanisms. Early Interv Psychiatry. 2018 Oct;12(5):774-783.

REFDD Rheumatoid Arthritis

REFDD1 Proudman SM, James MJ, et al. Fish oil in recent onset rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised, double-blind controlled trial with algorithm-based drug use. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015;74(1):89-95.

REFDD2 Senftleber NK, Nielsen SM, et al. Marine Oil Supplements for Arthritis Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Nutrients. 2017 Jan 6;9(1). pii: E42.

REFEE Safety

REFEE1 Chang CH, Tseng PT, et al. Safety and tolerability of prescription omega-3 fatty acids: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2018 Feb;129:1-12.

Revision Information

  • Reviewer: EBSCO NAT Review Board Eric Hurwitz, DC
  • Review Date: 07/2019
  • Update Date: 05/06/2020