Omega-3 for Heart Disease: Uses, Benefits, Dose, and More

Why Omega-3 helps Treat and Prevent Heart Disease

Consuming omega-3 helps treat and prevent atherosclerosis because it lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels in the body. It also increases the levels of HDL (good cholesterol), which helps maintain the heart’s arteries.

Omega-3 fatty acids also lowers blood pressure. This prevents plaque build-up in the arteries and maintains the flow of blood through the heart.

Furthermore, omega-3 helps treat atherosclerosis because it reduces inflammation in the body. Inflammation damages the arteries, causing them to become narrow. It also encourages plaque build-up in the arteries, which blocks the blood flow to and from the heart.

Many studies support the claim that omega fatty acids help reduce or prevent atherosclerosis. For instance, one study, “Omega-3 fatty acids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease,” found that increasing the amounts of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in patients’ diets reduced their triglyceride levels and raised their HDL (good) cholesterol levels, reducing the development of heart disease.

Recently, some studies have shown that other omega fats like omega-6 and omega-9 may work together with omega-3 fatty acids also prevent atherosclerosis and reduce inflammation in the body.

How Omega-3 works for Heart Disease

Omega-3 is a healthy polyunsaturated fat. There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

These fatty acids reduce the risk of heart disease by:

1- Lowering triglyceride levels: very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) molecules carry triglycerides into the arteries. EPA and DHA can help reduce the level of triglycerides in the blood by reducing the production of VLDL in the liver. Omega-3 can also increase VLDL clearance preventing triglycerides from being deposited in the arteries.

2- Decreasing LDL cholesterol levels: LDL cholesterol carries cholesterol molecules into the arteries. Omega-3 helps reduce LDL cholesterol levels in the blood.

Studies show that DHA is more effective than EPA at decreasing LDL cholesterol levels. Without cholesterol deposits in the arteries, plaque cannot accumulate there and limit blood flow to the heart. So, EPA and DHA protect the heart and prevent the build-up of plaque.

While scientists are not exactly sure how omega-3 works to decrease cholesterol levels, studies indicate that omega-3 can reduce cholesterol levels using Reverse Cholesterol Transport (RCT). RCT transports the excess cholesterol from “peripheral tissues” to the liver, which excretes it. This inhibits the formation of foam cells. Foam cells are macrophages or white blood cells that carry cholesterol. They can turn into plaque. Therefore, by preventing the formation of foam cells, omega-3 may prevent atherosclerosis.

3- Increasing HDL cholesterol levels: omega-3 can also prevent heart disease by increasing the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol in the blood. HDL absorbs cholesterol from the blood and carries it back to the liver. The liver flushes it from the body. This prevents plaque from accumulating in the arteries and reduces the risks of atherosclerosis.

4- Widening the arteries: omega-3 can prevent heart disease by widening blood vessels and lowering blood pressure. By relaxing the vascular smooth muscle cells that line the artery walls, it causes the arteries to become wider and reduces the risk of developing heart disease.

5- Preventing the formation of blood clots: consumption of omega-3 also prevents the formation of blood clots in the heart’s arteries. It prevents blood platelets from binding together to form blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

6- Reducing inflammation: omega-3 and other omega fatty acids like omega-6 and omega-9 have anti-inflammatory properties. Linoleic acid (LA) is an omega-6 fatty acid that prevents inflammation. Oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid found in olive oil, also has anti-inflammatory properties that help maintain heart health.

By reducing inflammation, the omega fatty acids prevent the formation of plaque in the arteries and reduce the risk of heart disease. However, the exact mechanism of action behind omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids remains unclear.

Omega-3 for Heart Disease: How much to Take

Omega fatty acids help treat atherosclerosis. However, given that the Western or Standard American Diet (SAD) is very rich in omega-6 and omega-9, yet deficient in omega-3, people need to add more omega-3 into their diet.

Some cardiologists might prescribe an omega-3-6-9 supplement at a ratio of 2:1:1. However, this depends on your diet. If your diet is rich in omega-6 and omega-9, you do not need to take omega-6 and omega-9 as supplements.

The ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 should be 2:1. Yet, in the Western diet, the ratio is 16:1.

Accordingly, it’s very important to balance the amounts of omega fatty acids in the diet. Consuming more omega-6 than omega-3 will cancel out omega-3’s health benefits and lead to health problems.

Always consult a doctor or healthcare expert to make sure you are taking a balanced ratio of omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that people with heart disease take 1 gram of EPA and DHA combined.

If people have atherosclerosis and high triglyceride levels, they can take a higher dose of omega-3. The AHA recommends that people with high triglyceride levels take between 2-4 grams of EPA and DHA per day.

Omega-3 for Heart Disease: Precautions

If you want to take omega-3 to treat atherosclerosis and prevent cardiovascular disease, you need to consider the following precautions:

1- People with certain medical conditions

People with the following medical conditions should take precautions and consult a doctor before they begin taking omega supplements.

- Diabetes: consuming excessive omega-3 fats may lower blood sugar levels. People who have diabetes should consult a doctor to determine the appropriate dose for their condition.

- A seizure disorder: consuming excessive omega-6 fats such as GLA may cause seizures in people who have a seizure disorder.

-Allergies: people who have allergies should take precautions before taking omega fatty acid supplements.

Many omega supplements come from fish sources, and people who are allergic to fish cannot take these supplements. Some supplements may also contain peanut and soy, which are also common allergens.

2- Pregnant or breastfeeding women

Consuming excessive omega-6 fats may cause pregnant women to have pregnancy complications such as early labor and contribute to the poor development of the fetus.

Pregnant women should also avoid omega-3 because it affects their blood clotting abilities and increases the risk of bleeding. Also, some omega-3 supplements like cod liver oil contain vitamin A, which might be harmful to the fetus.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid omega-3 fish oil supplements that come from fish that contain high amounts of mercury, such as mackerel, swordfish, or tilefish because mercury may harm the baby.

3- Interaction with other medications

Omega fats may interact with different medications and exacerbate certain conditions. Consult your doctor or healthcare provider before taking omega fatty acids supplements if you take the following medication:

- Anticoagulant medication: Omega fats can interfere with blood-thinning medication. Consuming excessive amounts of omega fats can cause blood thinning or excessive bleeding.

- Blood pressure medication: consuming excessive amounts of omega fats may lower blood pressure and interfere with blood pressure medication.

4- Excessive amounts of omega-6

There are concerns about taking excessive amounts of omega-6 fats because it may increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Do not take more than 3000 mg of the omega-6 fatty acid GLA per day because exceeding this dose might increase inflammation in the body.

There are conflicting opinions on omega-6 and its pro-inflammatory properties. If you want to know whether omega-6 reduces or increases inflammation in the body, check out omega-6 under our “Debatable Topics” section.

5 -Vitamin A Toxicity

If you are taking omega-3 supplements, always check the amount of vitamin A. Some omega-3 supplements may contain very high amounts of vitamin A, which may cause vitamin A toxicity.

People should also avoid cod liver oil because it contains a high amount of vitamin A. They can substitute it with other omega-3 supplements that aren’t high in vitamin A like fish or krill oil.

6- Dosage of omega fatty acids

Try to maintain the right balance of omega fatty acids. If you consume more omega-6 than omega-3, it will cancel out omega-3’s health benefits and lead to health problems.

If you take an omega 3-6-9 supplement, consume two portions of omega-3 for every portion of omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids: the ratio is 2:1:1.

Omega-3 for Heart Disease: Side Effects

Taking omega-3 fatty acids for heart disease may cause unwanted side effects. Consult with your doctor if any of the following side effects appear.

Omega-3 side effects

If you take omega-3, you may experience an unpleasant taste in the mouth, bad breath, heartburn, nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, low blood pressure, high blood sugar, diarrhea, headaches, and smelly sweat.