OverviewFish oil is a dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids. Your body needs omega-3 fatty acids for many functions, from muscle activity to cell growth. Show Omega-3 fatty acids are derived from food. They can't be manufactured in the body. Fish oil contains two omega-3s called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Dietary sources of DHA and EPA are fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel and trout, and shellfish, such as mussels, oysters and crabs. Some nuts, seeds and vegetable oils contain another omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Fish oil supplements come in liquid, capsule and pill form. People take fish oil for its anti-inflammatory effects. EvidenceResearch on the use of fish oil for specific conditions shows:
Our takeGenerally safeOmega-3 fatty acids are essential for good health. Try to get them from your diet by eating fish — broiled or baked, not fried. Fish oil supplements might be helpful if you have high triglycerides or rheumatoid arthritis. Fish oil appears to contain almost no mercury, which can be a cause for concern in certain types of fish. While generally safe, getting too much fish oil can increase your risk of bleeding and might affect your immune response. It's not clear whether fish oil is safe for people who are allergic to seafood. Take fish oil supplements under a doctor's supervision. Safety and side effectsWhen taken as recommended, fish oil supplements are generally considered safe. However, fish oil supplements can cause mild side effects, including:
Taking high doses of fish oil supplements might increase the risk of bleeding and possibly increase the risk of stroke. InteractionsPossible interactions include:
Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is
beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the
unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Dec. 08, 2020
. Is it better to take fish oil in the morning or evening?Timing matters: Fish oil in the morning more optimal in decreasing serum triglyceride levels. Eating sausages enriched with fish oil in the morning appeared to significantly decrease serum triglyceride levels compared to those who ate in the evening, according to a pilot study.
Why should you take fish oil at night?Omega 3s may improve sleep quality and sleep quantity in adults. Research suggests omega 3 fatty acids from regularly consuming fish may boost your sleep quality, help you fall asleep more quickly and improve your daytime performance.
Does fish oil make you sleepy?Insomnia. Some studies have found that taking moderate doses of fish oil could enhance sleep quality. One study of 395 children, for instance, showed that taking 600 mg of omega-3 fatty acids daily for 16 weeks helped improve sleep quality ( 22 ).
|