Expert: Simon Evans, PhD - 4/23/2007

Question
Hello,

I am a 35 year old male.
Since I do not usually consume fish like salmon and tuna, I consume two to three tablets daily of an omega 3 supplement. Each tablet contains 425mg EPA and 325mg DHA. Is this quantity adequate for long term use? Do omega 3 fats really help against atheromatosis?

Thank you,
Apostolos

Answer
Apostolos,

There is very little clinical data on how much omega-3 is too much, however, the amount you are taking is below the therapeutic value for some diseases. Still, if you do not currently have a condition that you are treating, I think you could cut down to two of those tablets per day for long term use.

As far as protecting against atheromatosis, that's not really known. However, omega-3s do aid in maintaining cardiovascular function and help keep cholesterol from getting oxidized in the blood, both of which would help protect against atheromatosis. So the answer is probably yes, even though the direct evidence is not there.

My only other advice is to make sure that you take fish oil pills that have undergone purification to remove the heavy metal and PCB contaminants. Look for 'molecularly distilled' or something similar on the bottle label.

Hope this helps.