Do Omega-3 fatty acids decrease triglycerides?
Check out this answer from Consensus:
Omega-3 fatty acids are effective in lowering triglyceride levels in the blood, both in fasting and postprandial states. They achieve this by reducing the production of VLDL triglycerides in the liver and enhancing the clearance of triglycerides from the blood. These effects are dose-dependent and can be further enhanced when combined with other lipid-lowering treatments like statins. Overall, omega-3 fatty acids are a valuable tool in managing hypertriglyceridemia and improving cardiovascular health.
Omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish oils, have been extensively studied for their potential health benefits, particularly in relation to cardiovascular health. One of the key areas of interest is their effect on triglyceride levels in the blood, which are a type of fat linked to heart disease when present in high amounts.
Key Insights
- Reduction in Triglycerides:
- Omega-3 fatty acids significantly reduce serum triglyceride levels in a dose-dependent manner1 2 4 5 9.
- The reduction in triglycerides can range from 20% to 30% with higher doses of omega-3 fatty acids1 4 5.
- Even at recommended intakes of 200-500 mg/day, omega-3 fatty acids can reduce fasting serum triglycerides by 3.1% to 7.2%2.
- Mechanisms of Action:
- Postprandial Effects:
- Combination with Other Treatments:
Do Omega-3 fatty acids decrease triglycerides?
Cristiano Fava has answered Near Certain
An expert from University of Verona in Genetics, Cardiovascular Disease, Nutrition
A recent meta-analysis show that one can probably expect a triglycerides reduction of nearly 10 mg/dL but this reduction is more consistent when the dosage is higher (Abdelhamid AS, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018). Even more recently, a randomised controlled trial using a very high does of a highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (4 gr/day) decrease serum triglycerides of 20% (Bhatt et al. N Engl J Med. 2019). Moreover, this change is accompanied by a decrease of cardio- and cerebrovascular events.
Do Omega-3 fatty acids decrease triglycerides?
Brian Ross has answered Near Certain
An expert from Northern Ontario School of Medicine in Biochemistry, Nutrition
There are numerous studies that show that omega-3 fatty acids reduce triglycerides in persons who have elevated blood levels, and quite a large number that show the same effect in those with borderline elevation or normal levels. Not all omega-3 fatty acids are the same however and it is the marine (DHA and EPA) which have been shown to have a clear reducing effect, while the effect of the other type, ALA, which is found in flax seed, is at best inconclusive. A good review can be found here: https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12944-015-0049-7
Do Omega-3 fatty acids decrease triglycerides?
Alex Buoite Stella has answered Uncertain
An expert from University of Trieste in Nutrition, Stroke, Neurology, Exercise Physiology, Physiology
If we are talking of omega-3 fatty acids as supplements, as summarized in a recent review from our group (Buoite Stella et al., Int J Mol Sci, 2018) results are contrasting, and different variables such as dose or triglycerides values at baseline may contribute to the not clear position on the topic. In general, we found omega-3 supplements hardly affect triglycerides concentration in blood, although high doses (around 2 g/day EPA + DHA) showed a positive effect in some studies, and in particular in obese individuals. Let me cite also a recent Cochrane review, saying “Moderate- and high-quality evidence suggests that increasing EPA and DHA has little or no effect on mortality or cardiovascular health (evidence mainly from supplement trials). Previous suggestions of benefits from EPA and DHA supplements appear to spring from trials with higher risk of bias” (Abdelhamid et al., 2018).
Do Omega-3 fatty acids decrease triglycerides?
François Mariotti has answered Near Certain
An expert from AgroParisTech in Nutrition
For EPA and DHA (the long-chain marine omega-3), at high-dosage (>1g/day, and probably more effect with 2-5g), and in people with high baseline plasma triglyerides.
Do Omega-3 fatty acids decrease triglycerides?
Emilio Ros has answered Near Certain
An expert from Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in Nutrition
Marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids do lower triglycerides at high doses, usually more than 2 g/day. These doses can be obtained only with fish oil supplements. The reason is that omega-3 fatty acids act on triglyceride metabolism in the liver by reducing the secretion of VLDL (lipoproteins rich in triglycerides) and also enhance the action of lipoprotein lipase, the enzyme that breaks down triglycerides in VLDL to free fatty acids that are taken up by the tissues.
Do Omega-3 fatty acids decrease triglycerides?
David M Mutch has answered Near Certain
An expert from University of Guelph in Nutrition, Genetics, Obesity
Triglyceride reductions are well documented with EPA and DHA, the two long-chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. Note that reductions in triglycerides are not typically seen with alpha-linolenic acid (the essential omega-3 fat found in oils and flax). People consuming 1.8 grams or more per day of fish oil have shown reductions in blood triglyceride levels. Interestingly, the reductions in blood triglycerides are partly explained by lower hepatic production of triglycerides and increased clearance of triglycerides by tissues around the body (e.g., adipose tissue). However, it is important to note that a growing body of evidence now shows that the benefits of EPA/DHA (fish oil) may vary based on a person’s genetic make-up. This means that some people may see large reductions in triglycerides while others may see little-to-no changes in the same amount of time.
Do Omega-3 fatty acids decrease triglycerides?
Chuck T Chen has answered Near Certain
An expert from National Institutes of Health in Nutrition, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Food Science
Triglyceride lowering effect of omega-3 fatty acid is now well established as evident by the 2018 Cochrane Review – “Omega-3 fatty acids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease”. However, it is important to understand that there are different forms of omega-3 fatty acids. Most commonly found in food are ALA (plant source omega-3; ex. flaxseed oil) and EPA/DHA (animal source omega-3; ex. fish oil). For ALA, moderate-quality evidence suggest that it makes little to no changes to serum triglyceride. For EPA/DHA, high-quality evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acid intake reduces serum triglyceride in dose-dependent fashion. In 2006, Balk et al proposed that for every 1 g/d intake of EPA/DHA, there is an associated 8 mg/dL reduction in serum triglycerides and this magnitude of change is not only dependent of your omega-3 intake but also dependent on your initial level of serum triglyceride. This effect is established from meta-analyses in patients with normolipidemic, hyperlipidemic, rheumatoid arthritis, AIDS/HIV, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), polycystic ovary syndrome, type-2 diabetes, or coronary artery disease/cardiac death risks.