National Institutes of Health • National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Omega-3 Supplements for Heart Disease
According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, which included a comprehensive survey on the use of complementary health practices by Americans, fish oil/omega-3/DHA supplements are the natural product (excluding vitamins and minerals) most commonly taken by adults, and the second most commonly taken by children.
There has been a substantial amount of research on omega-3 supplements and heart disease. Experts agree that fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids should be included in a heart-healthy diet. However, omega-3s in supplement form have not been shown to protect against heart disease.
Omega-3s are being extensively studied for other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and cognitive decline. Current evidence-based information is available from NCCAM at nccam.nih.gov/health/omega3.
This issue provides information on omega-3 supplements for heart disease, including what the science says, safety information, and tips for talking with your patients.
Time to Talk Tips: 5 Things To Know About Omega-3s for Heart Disease
Clinical Guidelines
Scientific Literature
- Systematic Reviews/Reviews/Meta-analysis (PubMed®)
- Randomized Controlled Trials (PubMed®)
Research Spotlights
Information for Your Patients
NCCAM Clinical Digest is a service of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NIH, DHHS. NCCAM Clinical Digest, a monthly e-newsletter, offers evidence-based information on CAM, including scientific literature searches, summaries of NCCAM-funded research, fact sheets for patients, and more.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science, training CAM researchers, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals. For additional information, call NCCAM’s Clearinghouse toll-free at 1-888-644-6226, or visit the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov. NCCAM is 1 of 27 institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health, the Federal focal point for medical research in the United States.
Subscriptions
Copyright
Content is in the public domain and may be reprinted, except if marked as copyrighted (©). Please credit the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine as the source. All copyrighted material is the property of its respective owners and may not be reprinted without their permission.
Follow NCCAM on:
Twitter at twitter.com/NCCAM
Facebook at www.facebook.com/nccam
YouTube at www.youtube.com/NCCAMgov
