Sunday, March 24, 2024
HomeFactsFish Oil To Lower Triglyceride Levels

Fish Oil To Lower Triglyceride Levels

Which Prescription Fish Oil Capsules Are Available To Treat Hypertriglyceridemia

Why Excelife Omega-3 fish oil is your ultimate choice to help reducing triglycerides levels?

Several prescription fish oil capsules have been approved by the FDA to treat triglyceride levels of more than 500 mg/dL. A report by Hilleman and Smer states that omega-3 fatty acid products available in prescription formulations have been found to significantly reduce triglycerides. In patients with baseline triglyceride levels of 500 mg/dL or greater taking 4 g/day of a prescription product, decreases compared with placebo ranged from 12.2% to 51.6%. Unlike the supplements, the prescription products are subject to FDA approval, and their safety and efficacy must be established prior to marketing. Currently, prescription capsules contain either a combination of EPA and DHA or EPA alone. There is some concern regarding the use of DHA in patients with dyslipidemia, since high-dose omega-3 products containing DHA increase LDL cholesterol levels the impact on HDL cholesterol levels varies.

One example of a prescription product is Lovaza. One 1-g capsule contains at least 900 mg of ethyl esters of omega-3 fatty acids . Another prescription omega-3 fatty acid product, Omtryg, was approved by the FDA in 2014 and contains EPA and DHA in the same amounts as Lovaza.

A third prescription fish oil is an ultra-pure omega fatty acid that contains an ethyl ester of EPA, icosapent ethyl . Each 1-g icosapent capsule contains at least 96% EPA and no DHA. Past studies suggest that highly purified EPA may lower triglyceride levels without increasing LDL cholesterol levels.

What Exactly Is Fish Oil

Fish oil supplements contain oils derived from the skin and liver of fatty fish such as mackerel, tuna, sardines, and salmon. They are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, a polyunsaturated fat that helps protect against heart disease and possibly other health conditions . Omega-3 fatty acids come in three varieties. One is alpha-linolenic acid , found in vegetable oils such as soybean, canola, and walnut. The other two are eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid , only found in fatty fish and fish-derived supplements. Though Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to humans, they cannot be produced by the body and must be consumed through diet or supplementation. Unfortunately, most Americans dont get enough of any of these types of omega-3 fatty acids in their diets. So, many people look to fish oil supplements to gain their daily recommended value of omega-3 fatty acids and gain its heart-healthy benefits.

A Cardiologist’s Top 10 Things To Know About Fish Oil Supplements

There’s more to consider about taking this common product than you may know.

Who knew that the decision to take a simple supplement like fish oil could be so complicated?

Omega-3 fatty acids may help decrease inflammation and decrease the risk of developing heart disease. At first, taking a supplement seems to be an easy decision. After all, why eat fish if you can get the active ingredients in a pill? Manufacturers tout the benefits relentlessly, but sometimes push so hard it seems as if they are trying to sell snake oil. Contrast that with studies suggesting that taking fish oil is worthless, or may cause harm. What does the evidence suggest? Here are some important things to consider:

  • Despite many studies done over the last few years, there is no absolute proof that taking omega-3 fatty acids will decrease your risk of having a heart attack. Studies are in progress to determine whether adding omega-3 fatty acids to a medical regimen including statins will lower your risk of a heart attack if you already have coronary artery disease.

  • DHA and EPA are the active ingredients in omega-3 fatty acids and have been shown in multiple studies to lower triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are a kind of fat, very different from cholesterol, that can cause irritation of the lining of blood vessels, especially when accompanied by low HDL cholesterol.

  • Don’t Miss: Does Saturated Fat Affect Cholesterol

    Since Niacin Is A Vitamin That Lowers Cholesterol You Can Take As Much As You Want

    Too much of a good thing — in this case, the B vitamin niacin — can be downright dangerous! Niacin can help lower cholesterol, but at high doses, it can raise blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Niacin can also cause flushing, a warm feeling and red color in the face and neck, as well as headaches, blurred vision, heartburn, and other unpleasant side effects.

    American Heart Association News Stories

    Pin on CHOLESTEROL

    American Heart Association News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in American Heart Association News stories reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Statements, conclusions, accuracy and reliability of studies published in American Heart Association scientific journals or presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the American Heart Associations official guidance, policies or positions.

    Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt or reprint from these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News.

    Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the American Heart Associations Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service.

    Also Check: Diet Plan To Reduce Cholesterol And Triglycerides

    What If Im Allergic To Fish Or Dont Want To Eat Fish

    Fish is the best food source of omega-3 fatty acids, but several plants contain ALA. This is not as rich of a source of omega-3 fatty acids, but some studies show that ALA can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

    Good sources of ALA are ground or milled flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, chia seeds, walnuts, soy foods and canola oil. Another source of ALA is algae or algae oil, which is broken down to DHA. Many foods that are fortified with omega-3 use algae oil. These are excellent options for vegetarians that do not eat fish.

    There are currently no serving size recommendations for ALA-rich foods. But, adding these foods to your diet regularly may help your heart health.

    Mercury And Heavy Metals

    Sometimes, mercury and other hard metals can build up in fish because of environmental pollution. This is more likely to affect larger fish , but since we often eat or press these larger fish , we are at risk for higher mercury levels. Older studies have found that almost 90% of people have higher mercury levels than recommended, and those who ate more fish were more likely to have higher levels.

    However, that doesnt mean that you should completely avoid fish or fish oil. Heavy metals are almost always removed during the refining and processing of fish oil. Both independent third-party testing organizations and researchers have come to the same conclusion: virtually no fish oil supplements on the market contain mercury. Before being sold, most fish oil supplements are tested for mercury and other heavy metals to be sure. This information should be readily available in a Certificate of Analysis or third-party testing results.

    If youre concerned about your mercury levels, our guide to the best at-home heavy metal tests might help soothe your worries.

    You May Like: What Is Non Hdl Cholesterol Test

    Fish Oilreduces Vldl Production

    Yourliver is a very important organ.

    Itdoes many jobs in your body, such as:

    • Storing glycogen

    Lipoproteins,such as VLDL , are made to transporttriglycerides to your tissues.

    Now,high levels of VLDL increase your triglycerides in 2 ways. They:

    • Increase triglyceride production directly
    • Reduce the clearance of triglycerides in your blood

    So, a great way to reduce your triglycerides is to lower your VLDL levels.

    A study compared the production of VLDL after supplementing with either fish oil or safflower oil.

    The results showed that those who took fish oil had a huge reduction in VLDL compared to those who took safflower oil.

    When Are Your Triglycerides Too High

    How to Lower Triglycerides Naturally by using Krill Oil

    Triglyceride levels are measured through a blood test.

    Your triglyceride level result is according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

    • Normal Less than 150 mg/dL
    • Borderline-high 150-199 mg/dL
    • Very high 500 mg/dL or above

    You May Like: Is Steak Bad For Cholesterol

    Ingredients & Potential Interactions

    It is essential to carefully read the ingredient list and nutrition facts panel of a supplement to know which ingredients and how much of each ingredient is included relative to the recommended daily value of that ingredient. Please bring the supplement label to a healthcare provider to review the different ingredients contained in the supplement and any potential interactions between these ingredients and other supplements and medications you are taking.

    Fish oil supplements typically contain EPA, DHA, and may also contain other fats such as omega-7 , oleic acid, or an omega-6 fat called GLA. Some fish oil supplements contain added vitamins, such as vitamin E, to help stabilize the oils to prevent them from going rancid.

    Fish oil supplements can have a blood-thinning effect and may lower blood pressure slightly. If you are taking blood-thinning or blood pressure lowering medication, be sure to discuss fish oil supplement use with a healthcare provider.

    The New Scientific Advisory Zeros In On Triglyceride Effects And On Newer Prescription

    Prescription-strength omega-3 fatty acids, available at the US Food and Drug Administration-approved dose of 4 g/day, are a safe and effective treatment for reducing triglycerides among individuals with hypertriglyceridemia, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association .

    Before omega-3 fatty acids are prescribed, however, physicians should first address any potential secondary causes of high triglycerides, such as hyperthyroidism or poorly managed type 2 diabetes, as well as implement a strategy to modify diet and lifestyle.

    If these changes are not possible or not effective, initiating triglyceride-lowering pharmacotherapy may be required, write Ann Skulas-Ray, PhD , and colleagues in a paper published online August 19, 2019, in Circulation.

    The science advisory updates prior AHA documents focused on omega-3 fatty acids, dating back to 2002 and 2011, that predate the advent of purified, prescription-strength formulations. The document also focuses specifically on their effects on hypertriglyceridemia, rather than atherosclerotic vascular disease.

    To TCTMD, Skulas-Ray stressed that the degree of treatment response to omega-3 prescriptions is determined by the severity of an individuals triglyceride levels prior to treatment. She also noted that levels are highly variable day-to-day, so the determination of response shouldnt be based on a single triglyceride measurement.

    Read Also: What Foods Should You Not Eat With High Cholesterol

    Cardiac Mortality Sudden Death And All

    The Diet and Reinfarction Trial 4 was one of the first studies to investigate a relationship between dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and secondary prevention of myocardial infarction. In this study, 1,015 men were advised to eat at least two servings of fatty fish per week, and 1,018 men were not so advised. At the two-year follow-up, the men who had been advised to consume fish had a 29 percent reduction in all-cause mortality but no reduction in the incidence of myocardial infarction.4

    Sudden death caused by sustained ventricular arrhythmias accounts for 50 to 60 percent of all deaths in persons with coronary heart disease .5 To date, the largest, prospective, randomized controlled trial on the effects of omega-3 fatty acids is the GISSI-Prevenzione Trial.6 This study included 11,324 patients with known CHD who were randomized to receive either 300 mg of vitamin E, 850 mg of omega-3 fatty acids, both, or neither. After three and one-half years, the group given omega-3 fatty acids alone had a 45 percent reduction in sudden death and a 20 percent reduction in all-cause mortality.6

    Follow A Lower Carb Diet

    Cholesterol Lowering Supplement

    Much like added sugar, extra calories from carbs in your diet are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells.

    Not surprisingly, low carb diets have been linked to lower blood triglyceride levels .

    A review of 12 randomized controlled trials found that people following reduced carb diets typically saw a reduction in triglyceride levels at 6, 12, and 24 months. Across these studies, triglyceride levels decreased the most 6 months after starting a reduced calorie diet .

    A 2020 review compared low fat and low carb diets. Researchers found that 612 months after starting their relative diets, those on the low carb diet had greater decreases in triglyceride levels than those on a low fat diet .

    Summary

    Following a low carb diet can lead to a significant reduction in blood triglyceride levels, at least in the short term, when compared with a low fat diet.

    Recommended Reading: Does High Cholesterol Cause Diabetes

    British Columbia Specific Information

    The BC Ministry of Health and BC Centre for Disease Control have developed recommendations that will help you and your family choose and eat fish that are low in mercury. To find out which fish are low, medium and high in mercury, see HealthLinkBC File #68m Food Safety: Mercury in Fish.

    Additionally, BC oysters are high in cadmium. Health Canada recommends that adults eat a maximum of 12 BC oysters per month and that children eat a maximum of 1.5 BC oysters per month. For more information, see BCCDC â Cadmium in BC Shellfish.

    How To Use Psyllium 28 % Oral Powder

    Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor. If you are self-treating, follow all directions on the product package. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. To prevent choking from this medication, take it with a full glass of water or other liquid . If you are taking the wafers, chew them thoroughly before swallowing.

    For powder forms of this medication, measure each dose according to the directions on the product label. Mix in a full glass of water or other liquid , stir completely, and drink right away. You may add more liquid to the mixture if it becomes too thick. When preparing the medication, be careful not to breathe in the powder since it may rarely cause an allergic reaction.

    Dosage is based on your age, medical condition, and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often than directed.

    This product may decrease the absorption of other medications you may be taking. Take this product at least 2 hours from your other medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

    It may take 1 to 3 days before this medication starts working. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. Do not take this medication for more than 7 days unless directed by your doctor.

    You May Like: Is Palm Oil Cholesterol Free

    Fish Oils Lower Triglyceride Levels

    Background:

    Though cholesterol gets the most attention, a large body of accumulating evidence indicates that elevations of triglycerides in the blood is also an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease especially in women. When hypertriglyceridemia is combined with elevated LDL cholesterol and high LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio the risk for heart disease is even greater, e.g., approximately sixfold greater compared to subjects with normal blood measurements.

    Fish Oils Fight Heart Disease:

    A large body of scientific evidence shows that supplementing the diet with highly purified fish oils protect against heart disease via a number of different actions including:

    • Lowering triglyceride levels
    • Lowering high blood pressure
    • Improving the function of the blood vessel lining

    In large scale clinical studies, these effects translate into increased life expectancy, especially in people who have had a previous heart attack. In general, for preventive effects the dosage recommendation is 1,000 mg EPA+DHA per day and for lowering triglycerides the dosage is 3,000 mg.

    New Data:

    In a double-blind study, after 8 weeks of supplementation a daily dosage of 3.4 g EPA+DHA lowered triglycerides by 27% while a lower dosage of 0.85 g had no effect. These results clearly indicate that the effective dosage for lowering triglycerides with fish oils requires dosages of 3 g EPA+DHA per day.

    Reference:

    Welcome

    On the Dr Oz show

    Sign-up for my Weekly Newsletter

    Fish Oil Supplements: Heart

    Health Benefits of Fish Oil with Omega-3 Triglyceride – Ep4

    About 145 million Americans use nutritional supplements each yearthats almost one-half of the population. One of the most common is fish oil. They annually generate $1.2 billion in sales, according to Nutrition Business Journal. Manufacturers claim that these fish oil can lower your risk of cardiovascular diseases, improve immunity, and boost athletic performance. But what does the science say? In this article, the research of the effects of fish oil supplements on key health indicators in your bodyespecially triglycerides, cholesterol, and testosteronewill be critically evaluated.

    Recommended Reading: Is High Ldl Cholesterol Dangerous

    Can I Take 2 Fish Oil Pills A Day

    Some people experience gastrointestinal side effects when taking fish oil. If a person experiences this side effect, they may find it helpful to split their fish oil into two doses and take them at different times of the day. People who split their dose in half may need to take each one at different mealtimes.

    Oily Fish Or Fish Oil Supplements

    It is a good idea to include fish in your diet several times per week. At least half of the intake should be oily fish such as anchovies, herring, or free-range salmon because these fish are particularly rich in omega-3 fatty acids . Preferably choose fish from pure waters and beware that predatory fish such as tuna contains more mercury because it is at the top of the food chain. A herring fillet contains around 1 gram of fish oil, while a free-range salmon steak contains around 3-4 grams. Farmed fish has a lower omega-3 content because they do not have a natural diet. According to the new study, optimal triglyceride lowering is obtained with four grams of fish oil each day, which means that a fish oil supplement is a convenient option for many people, especially for those who dislike the taste of fish. For normal protection of the cardiovascular system, two grams of fish oil daily is sufficient. Fish oil preparations based on free fatty acids have superior bioavailability. Also, make sure to choose a product that is within the safety threshold of the health authorities in terms of peroxide value and content of environmental toxins.

    References:

    Ann C. Skulas-Ray et al. Omega-3 fatty Acids for the Management of Hypertriglyceridemia: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2019

    American Heart Association. Prescription omega-3 fatty acid medications effectively lower high triglycerides. ScienceDaily. 2019

    Recommended Reading: What Causes High Ldl Cholesterol

    RELATED ARTICLES

    Most Popular