Can fish oil really lower blood lipids? Does taking fish oil help people with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases?

A friend with high blood pressure said that when he went to the drugstore to buy lipid-lowering drugs, the clerk always recommended him to buy fish oil, saying that it can also lower blood lipids and has few side effects.fish gelatin However, he had doubts about what fish oil is and what he should eat. Can it really lower blood lipids?

The fish oil mentioned by the store clerk usually refers to the oil extracted from the fat of deep-sea cold-water fish such as tuna, salmon, and sardines. Because it contains more OMEGA-3 (ω-3) unsaturated fatty acids, it has certain benefits for the human body. However, if you think of the health-care effect,gelatin sheet it must be high-purity fish oil, in which the omega-3 unsaturated fatty acid content must reach more than 85%.

What is deep sea fish oil?

The Eskimos living in the Arctic Circle have a very low probability of suffering from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.Bovine Gelatin After investigation, it was found that it is related to the large amount of marine fish in their diet. Because the fat of deep-sea cold-water fish contains a large amount of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Unsaturated fatty acids can esterify cholesterol, thereby reducing cholesterol and triglycerides, and also increase HDL cholesterol. Therefore, taking fish oil has the effect of lowering blood lipids and is beneficial to the human body. However, only high-purity fish oil has health-care effects, while fish oil with insufficient purity has a weak lipid-lowering effect.

Fish oil isn’t for everyone?

Domestic and foreign studies on fish oil have found that although omega-3 supplements and fatty acids can regulate blood lipids, so far, there is no evidence to prove that supplementing fish oil in healthy people can prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, for healthy people, supplementing with fish oil has no effect. practical meaning.

However, in studies on patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure, supplementing fish oil can reduce the risk of disease recurrence and has secondary prevention significance. In other words, the health-care effect of fish oil on healthy people is uncertain, but for people with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, supplementing with fish oil can produce benefits.

What should I pay attention to when taking fish oil supplements?

It cannot replace drugs: Although fish oil can lower blood lipids, the intensity of its effect is very low and it cannot replace lipid-lowering drugs such as statins and fibrates. People with hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis cannot stop taking lipid-lowering drugs even if they take fish oil.

The higher the purity, the better: fish oil purity must exceed 85% to be high-purity fish oil. Among omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, the main function of EPA is to reduce blood lipids, while the main function of DHA is to nourish nerves. If the purpose is to lower blood lipids, the higher the EPA content, the better.

Possible adverse reactions: Fish oil is not completely free of side effects. Some people may experience gastrointestinal irritation after taking it. Taking it with food can reduce the irritation. There are also a few people who will experience increased liver transaminase (AST, ALT), increased creatine kinase (CK), and increased bleeding tendency. Therefore, you should observe closely after taking it. If there are any abnormalities, you should stop taking it and seek medical treatment immediately.

Do not overdose: Fish oil is a health food, and the process requirements are not as strict as medicines. It will contain some impurities. After taking it in large amounts and for a long time, impurities may accumulate and cause harm to the human body, so do not overdose.

Pay attention to storage conditions: Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids have poor stability and are easily oxidized and deteriorated. They need to be protected from light and sealed to avoid failure.

To sum up, fish oil can assist in regulating blood lipids, but it cannot replace drugs and will benefit people who already suffer from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. When taking it, please note that the higher the purity, the better the effect. Adverse reactions may occur. It is best to take it under the guidance of a nutritionist or doctor.