Research
Mixed
Marine omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) significantly reduce several cardiovascular risk factors, including blood triglycerides, blood pressure, heart rate, and inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6), regardless of clinical outcome in primary prevention trials.
Taking omega-3 supplements will likely lower your triglycerides and slightly lower your blood pressure. However, this physiological improvement does not always translate to fewer heart attacks in healthy people, so do not rely on it as a sole preventive measure.
StrongSupportsVERY_HIGH confidence
These meta-analyses demonstrate that EPA and DHA lower triglycerides, lower the blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic), reduce the heart rate and increase heart rate variability and reduce platelet aggregation, whilst appearing to increase both low density lipoprotein (LDL)- and HDL-cholesterol.
Why this rating
Supported by multiple meta-analyses of RCTs showing consistent effects on biomarkers.
Source
Marine Omega-3 (N-3) Fatty Acids for Cardiovascular Health: An Update for 2020
Jacqueline K. Innes et al. · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2020
narrative_reviewCited 355×
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