Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil improve several cardiovascular risk factors, including decreasing atherosclerotic burden, reducing triglyceride levels and blood pressure, and improving platelet and vascular function. Not only do these fatty acids modulate risk factors, but controlled clinical trials have shown them to be effective in preventing cardiovascular and coronary events, particularly in high-risk individuals.
EPA and DHA also support cognitive function through multiple mechanisms, as they are essential for neuronal membranes, lower levels of which have been shown to be not only a marker of neurological disease but also a risk factor for cognitive impairment. EPA and DHA are essential for the resolution of inflammatory processes, providing substrates for the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins, resolvins, and protectins.
Benefits have also been demonstrated for improving overall health, including a wide variety of cardiovascular, inflammatory, and autoimmune conditions, ranging from cardiac arrhythmias, eczema, and inflammatory bowel disease, to pregnancy and breastfeeding support, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases. Meta-analyses of randomized trials have found that supplementation improved lipids and HbA1c and reduced proteinuria in diabetics, and improved insulin sensitivity in people with at least one symptom of a metabolic disorder.