| Used for
| Amount | Why |
|---|
Congestive Heart Failure | 850 to 882 mg per day
|  [3 stars] In a double-blind study of people with chronic heart failure, a combination of EPA and DHA for four years resulted in a small but statistically significant protection against death or hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons.
|
|
High Triglycerides | 3,000 mg daily omega-3 fatty acids | [3 stars] Many double-blind trials have shown that fish oil containing EPA and DHA lowers triglycerides levels. |
|
Hypertension | 3 to 15 grams daily omega-3 fatty acids | [3 stars] EPA and DHA, the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil, have been repeatedly shown to lower blood pressure. |
|
Lupus | Up to 20 grams fish oil per day after consultation with a doctor
| [3 stars] Supplementing with fish oil may improve symptoms and decrease disease activity.
|
|
Rheumatoid Arthritis | 3 grams daily of EPA plus DHA | [3 stars] Fish oil has anti-inflammatory effect and may help reduce pain. Many trials have proven that omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil partially relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. |
|
Angina | Consult a doctor
|  [2 stars] Fish oil has been shown to reduce chest pain and the need for nitroglycerin. Taking vitamin E with fish oil may protect the oil from undergoing potentially damaging oxidation in the body. |
|
Anxiety | 3 grams per day
| [2 stars] In a double-blind trial, fish oil was significantly more effective than a placebo in improving anxiety levels for substance abusers.
|
|
Asthma | Consult a doctor
| [2 stars] Research shows that fish oil partially reduces reactions to allergens that can trigger asthma attacks. It has also been shown in one study to prevent exercise-induced asthma attacks. |
|
Atherosclerosis | 3 to 6 grams fish oil daily, containing at least 30% omega-3 fatty acids
| [2 stars] Fish oil may reduce risk factors for atherosclerosis and heart disease. One trial showed that people who took fish oil had a slowing of the progression of their arterial plaque and had a decrease in cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.
|
|
Bipolar Disorder | Daily omega-3 fatty acids: 9.6 grams for adults, 1,290 to 4,300 mg for children
| [2 stars] People with depression may have lower blood levels of omega-3s. Taking fish oil, in addition to prescribed medication, improved symptoms in one study.
|
|
Breast-Feeding Support | Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner | [2 stars] Studies have shown that higher breast milk concentrations of DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid present in fish oil) are associated with better visual acuity in infants.
|
|
Cardiac Arrhythmia | Do not take, or take only with a doctor's supervision, if there is a history of sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation | [2 stars] Fish oil has been shown to reduce the frequency of abnormal heartbeats in some trials. |
|
Crohn’s Disease | 2.7 grams daily omega-3 fatty acids in enteric-coated capsules
| [2 stars] Fish oil helps relieve the inflammation of the gut that occurs in people suffering from Crohn’s disease.
|
|
Cystic Fibrosis | 2.7 grams of EPA daily | [2 stars] The impaired fat digestion in people with cystic fibrosis often leads to a deficiency of essential fatty acids, which may lead to increased risk of respiratory infection. This deficiency may be reversed by fish oil supplementation. |
|
Depression | 9.6 grams omega-3 fatty acids per day | [2 stars] Depressed people have been reported to have low amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Taking fish oil can replenish stores and stave off depression. |
|
Dysmenorrhea | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] A fish oil supplement containing EPA and DHA may help prevent menstrual syndromes. |
|
Eczema | Adults: 1,800 mg a day of EPA; children: proportionately less, according to body weight | [2 stars] Supplementing with fish oil can supply anti-inflammatory fatty acids that are missing in many people with eczema. |
|
Epilepsy | 3.25 grams daily of omega-3 fatty acids | [2 stars] In one study, supplementing with a mixture of omega-3 fatty acids (primarily EPA and DHA, found in fish oil) reduced the frequency of seizures in some epileptic patients. |
|
Heart Attack | 850 to, 1700 mg omega-3 fatty acids | [2 stars] Supplementing with fish oil may reduce the chances of having another heart attack. |
|
Immune Function and Critically Ill Patients | Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner | [2 stars] For critically ill and hospitalized patients, supplementing with fish oil appears to increase immune function. |
|
Immune Function and Post-Surgery Patients | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] Most studies have reported that supplementing with omega-3s increases immune function in hospitalized post-surgery patients. |
Intermittent Claudication
(Alpha-Linolenic Acid, Folic Acid, Oleic Acid, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E) | 200 mg of EPA and 130 mg of DHA daily, plus small amounts of vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin E, oleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid | [2 stars] In one study, men with intermittent claudication who drank a milk product fortified with fish oil, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin E, oleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid could walk further without pain than those who drank regular milk. |
|
Macular Degeneration
(Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Coenzyme Q10) | Follow label directions | [2 stars] In one study, supplementing with a proprietary blend of acetyl-L-carnitine, fish oil, and coenzyme Q10 improved visual function in people with macular degeneration. |
|
Multiple Sclerosis | 6 to 20 grams daily | [2 stars] Several studies have shown fish oil to help reduce urinary incontinence, improve eyesight, and reduce relapse rate in people with relapsing-remitting MS. |
|
Osteoporosis
(Evening Primrose Oil) | 6 grams daily | [2 stars] Fish oil combined with evening primrose oil (EPO) may improve calcium absorption and promote bone formation. |
|
Phenylketonuria | 125 mg of oil or 15 mg of docosahexaenoic acid per 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of body weight daily | [2 stars] The PKU diet is low in fatty acids, some of which are essential for proper brain development. Supplementing with fish oil may improve the deficiency. |
|
Pre- and Post-Surgery Health | 3.3 to 5 grams daily omega-3 fatty acids before and after surgery | [2 stars] Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil, have anti-inflammatory properties and may improve recovery and prevent infection after surgery. |
|
Pregnancy and Postpartum Support | 2.7 to 6.1 mg daily of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA plus DHA) | [2 stars] Supplementing with fish oil (providing the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA) significantly reduced recurrence of premature delivery, according to one analysis. |
|
Pregnancy and Prenatal Growth | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] The DHA found in fish oil is essential for the development of the visual system in infants.
|
|
Psoriasis | Take orally 10 grams daily oil or 3.6 grams daily EPA, or apply a 10% topical solution twice per day | [2 stars] Fish oil has been found to reduce the severity of psoriasis and improve skin lesions. It also may help prevent increased triglyceride levels that result from certain psoriasis drugs. |
|
Raynaud’s Disease | 4 grams of EPA per day | [2 stars] Supplementing with fish oil may reduce the severity of blood-vessel spasm. |
|
Schizophrenia | 2,000 to 3,000 mg daily of EPA | [2 stars] Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids appear to be deficient or improperly used in people with schizophrenia. Supplementing with fish oil may correct an imbalance and improve symptoms. |
|
Sickle Cell Anemia | 250 mg of oil per 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of body weight daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with fish oil appears to reduce the frequency of severe pain episodes. |
|
Tooth Decay | 3 tsp per day of cod liver oil | [2 stars] One trial showed that children given cod liver oil for an entire school year had over 50% fewer new cavities. |
|
Ulcerative Colitis | 5.4 grams daily of omega-3 fatty acids | [2 stars] Supplementing with fish oil may help reduce inflammation and prevent relapses. |
|
Alzheimer’s Disease | Refer to label instructions
|  [1 star] Fish oil may help slow the rate of cognitive decline in people with very mild impairment.
|
|
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] In one study, patients with chronic fatigue syndrome reported an improvement in their symptoms after taking a supplement containing the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA. |
|
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil have been linked to reduced risk of COPD. |
|
Colon Cancer | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Several studies have found that supplementing with fish oil reduces markers for colon cancer risk. |
|
Endometriosis | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Fish oil may reduce the severity of endometriosis, and it has been shown to improve symptoms of dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), which may be caused by endometriosis. |
|
Glaucoma | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Inuit people, who eat large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, appear to have a much lower incidence of glaucoma than do Caucasians. One study found that cod liver oil (a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids) reduced intraocular pressure in animals. |
|
Macular Degeneration | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] A diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, especially from fish, has been associated with lower risks of age-related macular degeneration.
|
|
Migraine Headache | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Fish oil containing EPA and DHA has been reported to reduce migraine headache symptoms. Fish oil may help because of its effects in modifying hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. |
|
Osteoarthritis | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] The omega-3 fatty acids present in fish oil, EPA and DHA, have anti-inflammatory effects and may relieve pain. |
|
Osteoporosis | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Supplementing with fish oil may improve calcium absorption and promote bone formation. |
|
Photosensitivity | redundant | [1 star] In one trial, supplementing with fish oil reduced photosensitivity in 90% of people suffering from polymorphous light eruptions. |
|
Preeclampsia | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Fish oil supplementation may lower the incidence of preeclampsia. |
|
Type 1 Diabetes | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Supplementing with fish oil may improve glucose tolerance and symptoms of diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy. |
|
Type 2 Diabetes | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Supplementing with fish oil may improve glucose tolerance and symptoms of diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy |
|