October 1, 2019 — Millions of Americans pop a fish oil supplement each day, hoping to bolster their heart health. Now, research suggests they may be on the right track.
The most up-to-date review of data from 13 prior studies found daily omega-3 fish oil supplement use tied to a significant lowering of risk for heart attack, according to a team led by Dr. JoAnn Manson. She is a professor of epidemiology at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in Boston.
Daily use of the supplement — typically about 840 milligrams per day — was also linked to a lower overall risk of dying from heart disease, the review found.
In total, the 13 studies involved data on more than 120,000 adults, a sample size that is 64% larger than any other yet conducted, the researchers said.
Although the findings are encouraging, fish oil remains just one factor in heart health, Manson said in a school news release.