Fish Oil

Fish oil's active ingredients — EPA and DHA — are the raw materials your body uses to build anti-inflammatory signaling molecules, maintain neuronal membrane fluidity, and regulate cardiovascular function through triglyceride reduction, platelet activity, and blood pressure. A Harvard meta-analysis of clinical trials found daily omega-3 supplementation is associated with an 8% reduced risk of heart attack and coronary heart disease death. The landmark PISCES trial — a multicenter RCT of 1,228 dialysis patients — found 4 grams per day reduced the composite risk of heart attack, stroke, cardiac death, and vascular amputation by 43% versus placebo. Brain health is a legitimate secondary target: DHA is a major structural component of the cerebral cortex, and observational data consistently links higher omega-3 intake to better cognitive outcomes and lower depression rates. People with elevated triglycerides, cardiovascular risk factors, low fish consumption, or mood concerns are the most logical users. High doses can increase bleeding time and may interact with anticoagulants; quality matters because poorly stored fish oil oxidizes readily. One of the supplements where the evidence is strong enough that the debate has shifted from whether to how much.

Also known as: Fish Oil, EPA/DHA, Omega-3 Fatty Acids