Is fish oil giving you Heart Disease?!

[@ZsuzsaKarolySmith]

I love your nuanced approach to these claims, rather than the kneejerk reactions we commonly see online. Nothing is black and white!

[@stevelanghorn1407]

Exactly!

[@WiseMindNutrition]

So refreshing!

[@richardcoughlin8931]

Your videos are the best out there. As someone who has done research myself, I appreciate your bringing in multiple studies and resisting sweeping conclusions. Well done, doc!

[@Amy-tl2xe]

Gil, you explain things so beautifully. We are so very lucky to have you!

[@davidtodd894]

I was experiencing A Fib after taking Fish Oil tables . I stopped taking it and the A Fib went away . After a few months I tried taking Fish Oil tablets again and the A Fib came back .I was taking 1g . I now get my Omega 3 from my diet and have had no issues /no A Fib.

[@Christiana11-11]

Me too ! It was awful so I just use ground flax and no afib. I took it for years with no problems… I think it could be chemicals to process fish oil … I am healthy, fit, thin, with no health problems but fish oil now gives me afib. I tried many times with same result .. so flax it is 🎉

[@ETERNALCYCLES]

do you get it from fish or things like flax

[@davidtodd894]

@@ETERNALCYCLES No , just with fish oil tablets . I take 2 table spoons of ground flax seed everyday in my smoothie it's fine (no A Fid ) . I also eat walnuts everyday and no A Fib . I eat salmon 3 times a week and no A Fib . It's only when I take Fish oiLS Tablets that I experience A Fib .

[@fradesjo]

@@davidtodd894 Hi David, do you track the A Fib from smart watch? How long after you take the fish oils the A Fib happen?

[@coza10]

Also got heart palps from a fish oil supp but not from seafood or ahiflower supp

[@EatLeadPal]

I'm 63 and eat a healthy diet and exercise 5 days a week. I eat salmon and tuna every week and take fish oil supplement every day. I brought my cholesterol down from 220 to 130. Works for me.

[@nizahe2731]

Why do you contribute that result to consuming fish oil and fish? It can have nothing to do with it. Excercise and diet alone can achieve such score. My total cholesterol is 80 and I don't supplement fish oil nor eat fish. Such claims don't mean anything. Just pointing out.

[@Damaminka]

@billh4285 I'm 67 and my blood pressure came down. The only thing different I did was start taking fish oil capsules. I'm with you. Works for me.

[@davidchai168]

Me too! I take Cod liver oil everyday. Still healthy, no heart problems....🤔

[@Michael-yi4mc]

Happy birthday. I’m 64 years old and eat healthy.

[@Maxime-lv1ko]

I'd be careful with fish. They carry lots of microplastics, heavy metals and other toxins. There was a meta analysis not long ago that concluded replacing even "healthy" fish with plant protein reflected positively in health markers. Algae supplementation is basically just fish oil but it has no toxins. It's more expensive though.

[@brettduce5243]

This seems to go back to the old pharmacology saying in my uni days “no efficacy without toxicity”.

[@Nimsrodel]

Thank you, finally someone with no hype, who I can trust. Science background here, and I take the science very seriously. Your videos are very informative, thanks for delving into the research and doing excellent summaries. Saves the rest of us a lot of time!

[@russetburbanks275]

Thank you, Doctor! I take fish oil because I don't eat fish often and I am a higher risk for heart disease. I was diagnosed with AFib with RVR last year and I guess I will chat with my PC and cardiologist if I should even be taking this supplement. You're the best.

[@amarug]

Second comment: My anecdotal experience is: I used to have AF sometimes a decade ago and it went away for the most. A few months back I started taking 1h of Omega3 a day and after a few weeks I noticed palpitations and short bursts of what I felt when I was diagnosed with AF. I stopped the pills and the palpitations went away. I had no clue about this research then, on the contrary, my placebo mindset told me "this is good for your heart". Maybe a total coincidence, but funny that it fits.

[@uda123cat]

A cautionary note: The majority of "fatty fish" commonly available are Farm Raised and fed all kinds of cereal/antibiotics/growth hormones and other crap to increase production and profit. Buy wild caught fish but unfortunately these types of fish are hard to find in many areas and are way more expensive.. Do your research before just assuming the fish you buy at a grocery store is all that good for you because it's usually a mixed bag of good things for you wrapped in a "bad" package.

[@orion9k]

I used to take 5 grams fishoil per day because several KZbin/doctor influencers said optimal DHA/EPA were 1grams each, that required me to take 5 grams overall fishoil, and I started experiencing weird heart palpitations this year even tho I been doing this for several years. My hypothesis is that it was due to oil going oxidized because I opened the capsules and oil smelled really bad. I bought another brand, opened caps, oil smelled fresh and chest discomfort went away, but came back 3 weeks later so I opened the caps again and sure enough, the oil smelled fishy again, so it went in the garbage can. I don't want to waste more money on fish oil now, these caps go bad after few weeks even if they are in the refrigerator.

[@tankytrash1281]

I really hope this works out for you in the style you do these videos. This actually provides value and saves me time

[@mardukevii9180]

Same here

[@KevinBalch-dt8ot]

I like short and sweet rather than stock video clips that may add polish but not value.

[@trumpetingangel]

I'm so pleased to hear this! My cardiologist insisted I start aspirin (I have coronary microvascular dysfunction and coronary artery spasms), so I cut back on my Omega-3 supplements, because both are blood thinners and I already bruise easily. I am going to go back to fish oil, but take less, after watching this video.

[@VeganLinked]

Thank you for acknowledging algae supplementation. I don't know why these studies don't compare those to the fish oil. What if the algae oil doesn't have any side effects. It would be so cool if they could also compare those who consume a well-planned whole Food vegan diet with a regularly high intake of alpha linolenic acid rich foods like nuts and seeds. Feels like nothing's really changed still after so long. Great video, Nice update!

[@Sobchak2]

Chemically they are pretty much the same thing, DHA and EPA.

[@VeganLinked]

@@Sobchak2 yeah, except fish oil is more likely to have bioaccumulated environmental toxins, hurts animals needlessly, and is gravely unsustainable

[@yaneznayoui1597]

@@Sobchak2 Would still be interesting to compare. Chemically the same but worth a look either way. Especially with the whole foods compared such as algae and salmon.

[@dubsdolby9437]

I was a long-term taker of fish oil supplements, and i always noticed i had slight AF, but i just dismissed it. After this study, i stopped taking them, and the AF has pretty much gone. I won't be taking it again. I just eat fish within my diet.

[@timt9697]

Gil, I am quite suspicious of the reduce-it trial because it was not a true placebo control RCT since the "placebo" was mineral oil which is known to be pro-inflammatory and is likely harmful.

[@patriciasanchezwebb]

I always find that if I listen to your videos all the way through, the questions that start popping up in my head get answered. Thanks for covering algae oil.

[@Fitzrovialitter]

Why put an apostrophe in "video's"? Video's what? What is your meaning?

[@lorettemontgomery5649]

@@Fitzrovialitter Why worry about a little typo?

[@patriciasanchezwebb]

@@FitzrovialitterSorry for the confusion. I chose the wrong predictive.

[@Amy-tl2xe]

Exactly! Right when I think it, he answers it!

[@slydog7131]

Omega-3 EPA and DHA does have some anti-inflammatory properties, which is helpful, but they are mostly beneficial for brain and skin health. It is Omega-3 ALA which is beneficial to heart health, and that is found in abundance in flax seed but is not present in fish oil. Fish get their omega-3s from algae, so it is reasonable to expect that omega-3 in algae oil would be the same. If purchasing fish oil, look for ones that are purified to remove mercury.

[@warrenlucier5796]

I had high triglycerides (over 1600) and was prescribed Lovasa, 4 capsules a day (generic equivalent) years ago, to help in lowing them. My continual shift in diet I feel was more the cure for the problem, but the only reaction I got from taking this, was if I bumped my arm on something I'd get broken capillaries. My triglycerides were down to 88 and I asked my doctor if I could stop taking the medicinal fish oil, my concern was I could get internal bleeding. I take a lower does of fish oil now instead of the prescription and no problems anymore.

[@elduderino1329]

Interesting. I stumbled upon a study maybe two decades ago which said Eskimos have lower chance of heart disease but higher chance for stroke.

[@TomDOLAN-cb9th]

Another great review Gil. You are a wonderful source to keep us balanced with the ton of studies and wild information out there. Hoping all is well with the family and hope to see your content for a very long time. All the best.

[@CedroCron]

I'm on a high level of Methadone for Chronic Pain. This medication in high doses can cause Atrial Fibrillation so I have to have an ECG once a year to make sure I'm not developing this condition. I also monitor my heart doing an ECG with my Apple Watch, regularly too. I have been taking 4,000mg of Fish Oil under advice of my doctor to counteract the problems I have with my bowels due to my Spinal Cord injury and I have had 0 issues with Atrial Fibrillation doing this for a number of years now. I just thought I'd let you know because if anyone is going to develop Atrial Fibrillation it would be me due to my high risk for it.

[@Alex-bl8uh]

That's not how science works. But good for you and thanks for sharing anyway.

[@SupremeODMG]

Can an ECG detect that you have a fib even if you're not feeling it?

[@CedroCron]

@@SupremeODMG Yes because your Electrical Rhythm will not look right. Same with valves that aren't sealing or hearts that have had a mild to severe heart attack. This all shows up in ECG patterns.

[@EbonyPope]

I would say that the benefits still outweight the risks. Just like mountainbiking carries the risk of breaking bones and you can defnitely show a higher risk for that you still get a lot of benefits of doing sports.

[@CedroCron]

@@EbonyPope Absolutely, and also I would add that just because this is working for me doesn’t mean it will work for everyone. I just wanted to add my unique position to the conversation because I’m already at a high risk for Atrial Fibrillation so one would think I would experience it first taking such a high amount of Fish Oil for my bowel issue created by my spinal cord injury. I think there is more at play in peoples diet that combined with the fish oil or some other health issue underlying that might be the actual issue rather than the fish oil alone.

[@matthewmurray7428]

I've been worrying about this. So happy you covered this. I'm vegan and take 1 gram every day. Now I might lower it a little. Appreciate the clarification!

[@julieowens7095]

I'm vegan too. What do you take?

[@grego4835]

You take 1 gram of what?

[@matthewmurray7428]

@@grego4835 cocaine

[@ldjt6184]

Okay but if you take fish oil capsules you're not vegan. just saying.

[@CarlNiemi]

​@@grego4835 omega-3? Should be fairly clear from context of the video

[@KevinBalch-dt8ot]

I have hated even the smell of fish since forever. I have been taking cod liver or fish oil for years but have it lemon flavored. It has seemed to help my triglyceride to HDL ratio immensely and it may be my imagination but I think it has also helped mental focus. I have tried to eat fish but I just can’t do it.

[@vlaminggarrulus4785]

Algues oil capsules

[@ksol-px2sl]

What I think keeps getting lost in all the discussion of Omega 3s and CVD is the risks/benefits in terms of brain health. Neither my husband nor I are at high risk for CVD, but we have some family histories of dementia and mental illness to contend with, so we take algae oil. Are we off base on this? I'd love to see more on the research regarding brain health rather than CVD. As always, great content, Gil!

[@rejean2744]

I've cut my dose to 1000mg twice a week, since seeing the Afib news. I've been taking FO for 30+ years. It's definitely helped my blood #s. I do have bouts of Afib and flutter. So seeing this latest news has me perplexed.

[@Asiansxsymbol]

If you've been taking it 30+ years without any instances of atrial fibrillation, then you're fine. Lol

[@watcherworld5873]

If some is good, more is not necessarily better, and too much is almost always bad.

[@ricpitt1]

Comparison between the Sacha Inchi Oil and the Fish Oil I. The process of obtaining the supplies The Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia Volubilis Linneo ) is a seed obtained through the cultivation in organic earth located in the Central Forest of the Peru in medium altitudes and it implies all the corresponding agricultural works. The required extension area is related to the amount of production that is desired to obtain, 1 Ha of earth produces 1000 Kg of seed in the first year, then, the production increases gradually until the 3rd year, when it reaches its maximum productivity, the first harvest is achieved after 10 months; to obtain 1Kg of oil it is required an average of 6 Kg of seed. At the moment exists little seed offer in relation to the demand; The oil production does not yet reach important volumes due to the fact that it is a new product, and it will take its value in the market as the demand increases and the cultivation areas expand. The fish - usually fish of cold water - is the supply of the fishmeal and the remaining oil constitutes a sub-product which is directly encapsulated (softgels), or it is used as a base -deodorized - to elaborate other products, such as snacks, cookies, candies, tofees, etc”¦, which already have a wide established market since many years ago. II. Oil obtaining Process The Sacha Inchi is an organic vegetable product which content goes through an extraction process in cold, to be converted into an extravirgen oil, allowing the human being to count with a product which enables him to metabolize his own omegas (precursory acids O-6, O-3, and O-9), creating in consequence a natural order. The fish oil, having an animal origin offers the human being the O-3, metabolized by the said organism which was used as supplier source in the process of the oil production; the source precursor is the plankton. III.Comparison among their main components The Sacha Inchi has over 47% more content of linolenic acid, the O·3 precursor The fish oil has from 22% to 33% of O·3, being the anchovy the best fish for the O·3 Oil. Due to the fact, that the Sacha Inchi contains the precursor a-linolenic in superior quantity, it is able to produce more EPA and DHA (Omega 3), than any other fish and it offers an ideal combination of O·3 (in more content), besides the O.6 and O.9. The Sacha Inchi has 3.85% of Palmitic acid and 0.0% of Palmitic-oleic. & nbsp; The Anchovy has 19.9% of Palmitic acid and 10.5% of Palmitic-oleic. A less content of these components better for the human body. The Sacha Inchi has 93.69% of Unsaturated Fatty Acids. The fish oils can contain from 65% to 77% Unsaturated Fatty Acids. The higher percentage makes it more favourable to the health. The Sacha Inchi has 6.4% of Saturated Fatty Acids. The fish oils can contain from 22% to 35% of Saturated Fatty Acids. The lowest percentage of saturated fatty is the most healthy. The smell and the flavor of the Sacha Inchi is like the nature and similar to the beans. The smell and the flavor of the fish oil is well known. When a person takes softgels of fish oil may belchs the fish flavor. The complementary process to eliminate the characteristic smell and flavor of the Sacha Inchi Oil and the development of the sub-products with flavor discretion (final product), is already a reality and slowly, but in a progressive and sustained way they will occupy a higher level in the market to those products, which are elaborated on basis of fish oil, due to their superior characteristics. IV. Conclusion ALL THIS MEANS THAT SACHA INCHI OIL, IS THE PRECURSOR SOURCE OF O·3 (WITH AN IDEAL COMBINATION OF O·6 AND O·9) OF VEGETABLE AND ORGANIC ORIGIN ALLOWS THE HUMAN BEING TO METABOLIZE THEIR OWN O·3, BECOMING A VERY SUPERIOR HEALTH PRODUCT IN RELATION TO THE FISH OILS WHICH CONTAINS O·3.

[@YvonneJohnLarking-z8b]

Yes, fish oil supplements did give me arrythmia, or atrial tachycardia. I was on statins, which eventually poisoned me, but because they gave me joint pain and swelling I was advised to take fish oil supplements. I did this for many years, but between the statins and the fish oil I became extremely ill. Now I have given both up and after 5 months I am finally feeling normal again, and managing my cholestrol with diet, which includes oily fish one to two times a week.

[@ml3141]

How about vegetable sources of Omega 3's like walnuts, flax, and chia? Especially for people who didn't want to use fishies.

[@NoUseForMySoul]

The body does convert the ALA in the sources you described to EPA/DHA , although in very small doses. There is also strong evidence that unsaturated fats have a separate absorption pathway from saturated fats. In other words, walnuts are very healthy, but fight fish oil for absorption, whilst providing way less of the EPA/DHA benefit. That steak on the other hand, may not be that healthy in comparison, but barely interferes with a EPA/DHA absorption from a supplement. Due to the low conversion rate of ALA to EPA/DHA, the amount of walnuts you'd need to generate a EPA/DHA load akin to a fish oil supplement is very high. It's probably not healthy to eat that many nuts for other reasons. The overall situation is nuanced.

[@Scottlp2]

Omega 3 precursors (compounds body must convert) to EPA/DHA like in walnuts, etc are not converted as well as one gets older (and depending on other fats you eat).

[@dickschwanzstein1789]

They’re good sources, but contain different types of omega 3 fatty acids. If you want the same type, get an algae supplement, cause fish get the omega 3s into their system by eating algae

[@julieowens7095]

YES!

[@Handheldsounds]

As far as I know, Flax/Chia/nuts are a source of ALA, which is a precursor of actual Omega 3 (EPA/DHA) and is converted at a very low percentage. So seems to me it will be unlikely to cause Omega 3 type reactions.

[@danfg7215]

I've tried many brands, but whenever I take omega-3 I feel weird and sick, I reduced my supplementation to a single capsule only twice a week, to avoid any noticeable side effects.

[@SkepticalCaveman]

Well, omega 3 thins the blood also, with all the risk that follows with that so moderation is the key. If you don't eat a lot of fish then omega 3 supplementation makes sense. I choose krill oil since it has less toxins than fish oil.

[@hansgruber1931]

I use to take fish oil every day and ended up with heart palpitations and headaches so I’d say that study is spot on

[@nomad_ape]

Hi, may I know how much fish oil did you take daily?

[@Ryan_DeWitt]

Yes, your one person anecdotal claim proves it.

[@jhakku1401]

Me too

[@cahayafajar]

just like me...after consuming omega 3 my heart beat irregularly for only a few seconds, but it was very scary because it happened repeatedly. after a while I went to the health facility, did an Ekg, everything was detected as usual, and everything was fine. it's just...but last night it appeared again...this morning I tried not to consume omega 3, it turns out everything is fine...

[@kelliea5729]

Another thing that goes back and forth. One day you must take it (up to 4,000 IU a day) and the next day it's no good for you. I take a plant based EPA/DHA because I am allergic to seafood. I live in a place that only has 3 months of summer sun, so I take 3,000 IU a day. Now, should I be lowering that to 500? Who and what are you supposed to believe anymore?

[@4124V4TA-SNPCA-x]

True. But the thing is no one really can tell you that. At least with 100% confidence. Including your doctors and Gil even more as he doesn't know your medical and family history. Intermittent intake sounds good to me but I'm just a random layperson. Edit: How could I miss you were using IU instead of mg... 😅

[@NutritionMadeSimple]

sounds like you're asking about vitamin D, not omega 3s? vitamin D is often measured in IUs and relates to sunlight exposure

[@LadyForestStar]

Might explain my tendency to heart palpitations lately..? My heart race much easier when I'm stressed out. Still my mental health is better than ever in my life, nothing wrong with it. But my heart speeds when I'm going to sleep. My thyroid has been somewhat over functioning from time to time though.

[@TheBigBallsOfFury]

Yup. Seems like a fool's errand to try and optimize diet to this degree when dietitians can easily flip-flop on what they were so confidently advocating for just yesterday.

[@elduderino1329]

3000 IU of what?

[@brokko_le3]

Nutrition never turns out to be simple, but that doesn't matter. I'm really here for accurate information.

[@kycpawe8194]

Interesting. I was facing with some afib symphoms and suplementing 500EPA 750DHA every day. Since begining of spring cut it to one dose 250/500 and any symphtomps just stopped. It wasnt because I heard about side effects of O3 - just decided to lower my dose. Now it's second month since I dont suplement it anymore, but from time to time I consume some tasty fish. None of afib sympthoms anymore to this day.

[@frv6610]

is it safe to eat a lot of salmon?

[@kycpawe8194]

@@frv6610 Most of the time I eat oven roasted mackerel as it's seems to be the best choice.

[@javitswenderlich1010]

Many people get confused by the numbers. We should not conflate the FISH OIL number on the front of the bottle, say 1000 mg and the OMEGA -3 number (on the front or back of the bottle) say 300 mg omega-3. Only part of that number is what we're after. Only part of that Omega-3 is the vital elements called EPA and DHA which could add up to only 250 mg. So when it is suggested you take 1000 mg it is referring to that last group, EPA and DHA. So I take 4 Softgels, 250 x4 = 1000 mg EPA and DHA,. Thats 4, 1000mg of FISH oil totaling 4,000 mg FISH OIL but only 1,000 mg EPA/DHA.... Am I correct???

[@greggray3741]

The actual incidence of Afib in the non-fish oil users was around 4.2%, while that in the fish oil users was 4.8% - this represents an absolute risk increase attributable to using fish oil of just 0.6%. Another study published in 2020 and included nearly the same group of participants as the current UK Biobank study found regular use of fish oil was associated with a 13% lower risk of all-cause mortality, a 16% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, and a 7% lower risk of incident cardiovascular disease events (i.e., myocardial infarction or stroke).

[@BrittReid-u6j]

I believe those larger studies showed aFib risk from omega 3 intake varied by vagal tone. Low vagal tone had few aFib issues, high vagal tone (low resting HR ect) saw most of the increased risk with omega 3 supplementation.

[@dikiprayogo9709]

Do you have any tips for low vagal tone? If you don't mind, would you like to share it. Thank you

[@BrittReid-u6j]

@@dikiprayogo9709 Sorry, I know of no safe effective ways to consistently reset very high or low vagal tone beyond the rare case of high tone due to extreme amounts of aerobic training. Those folks could decrease training levels.

[@reynal_omnicide9217]

I had some weird ahrhytmias (whatever it's spelled I don't care to google it) and even had a panic attack which is pretty serious and scary. Then the correlation popped when the doctors ask me if I've been taking any drungs or vitamins. I just started taking cod liver oil for like 2 weeks and my heart slowly but surely rise in intensity for those 2 weeks until I had that panic attack. Now I don't take that crap anymore and I notice if I eat fried foods my heart rate increases a bunch.

[@kristinowens899]

I started taking fish oil because I read an article saying it can reduce rage. Idk if it's the pre-menopause, but I get this rage from the depths of hell!!! Hasn't been a month yet, but it seems to be helping so far. Can you speak on this please?

[@trevorbartram5473]

I had been eating one can of oily fish (sardines, herring, kipper etc) a week for the last five years & sporadically before that. Until I saw a documentary about Chernobyl & realized the fallout plume squarely hit the Baltic Sea where my fish originates. I researched evidence of contamination but could find nothing. If anyone knows the answer please speak up?

[@Asiansxsymbol]

You've been eating nucleared fish? 🙀

[@trevorbartram5473]

That is what I'm trying to find out?

[@pearljam_1]

My guess is that contamination is probably gone by now.

[@randomstufff9319]

Hi, i like you podcasts, very enlightening. With regards to this podcast, I've been taking fish oil supplement (2500 mg) for 15 years. I started this after I had a heart attack. Last month I went for a complete heart check. Everything seems to be fine. Guess I belong to the lucky group.

[@Jintrepreneur]

What is the omega 3/fish oil actually doing to the heart that causes the problems? Also is there anything about the micro plastics found fish oils?

[@CptApplestrudl]

@Nutrition Made Simple!: Here's an idea for another video: Arsenic levels in rice and how relevant they are for human health or Phytic acid: Good, bad or irrelevant? Does soaking seeds and nuts actually do anything?

[@JohnPatersonAu]

Oh wow! I've had Atrial Fibrillation. I'm not taking fish oil again.

[@KTPurdy]

Great info. I've been taking Algae oil for years and yes it does raise your EPA/DHA.

[@thett2368]

I take it for inflammation. Have ankylosing spondylitis

[@lpslpslpslpslpslps]

Could you (or anyone else) speculate on the possible mechanism by which omega-3 FAs cause atrial fibrillation? Also, do we know if there are certain populations for which the connection is higher? E.g., is it more likely if, say, you also have a left bundle branch block?

[@4124V4TA-SNPCA-x]

1:17 Yeah. And by that logic smoking may be good for you. After all, negative effects of smoking are primarily based on epidemiological studies. No RCT. (OFC I know it's not your opinion.) I like how you used uncolored fish slice as farmed salmon truly is. (Without colorings added to the fish forage or most likely added later...) Algae are a *MUCH better source for Omega-3 fatty acids* as they are the source. With fish derived Omega-3 capsules you only ingest additionally accumulated pollutants from toxic heavy metals to PCAs, BPAs, microplastics, and more. Additional hormones and antibiotics if farmed fish or krill is used... Wild caught had too many "bycatch" and pollutants including thousands of tons of nets. Deriving oil from poor sharks is even worse. Algae should be farmed in a much larger scale worldwide. It would be better for the environment, better for our health and vegan friendly as bonus. It would lower both production and final cost. Also true for apart as good ingredients. Cheaper nori, wakame, Kombu... Cheaper Asian food in the West...

[@teeminator30]

⚠️ Dr Ray said this 40 years ago and got ridiculed. Many of his followers luckily avoided fish oil.

[@mirandamom1346]

Thank you- I really needed this! I’m a vegetarian who takes low dose algae derived DHA/DPA supplements. When the link between atrial fibrillation and fish oil came up, I wondered if I should stop those supplements.

[@debbiehollis8929]

Your not taking fish oil though, you’re getting it from where the fish get it from, straight from the source 😊

[@tigerfish9078]

Well done. Thanks for adding clarity.

[@not_old_yet]

I’m sorry to throw in a tangent in the comments but I can’t see where else to ask. Would you consider a video about CoQ10 supplements, please? You may have addressed it in a previous statin video but I couldn’t find the info. Hopefully the many statin users would be interested too. For me,I live with ME/CFS and many studies indicate one of the metabolic changes is lowered CoQ10. There’s no treatment for this condition and I’m among the many who desperately try supplements (I have a doctorate in Biology so I’m not an idiot, just very very desperate) There are many like me, especially if you group in the long Covid people.

[@dawson0610]

I gives me heartburn thats for sure and thats with low dose.

[@ElectricityTaster]

2 questions: -Were the omega 3 supplements tested or could they have been some bootleg engine oil capsules? -Were the omega 3 supplements stored correctly, or were they exposed to heat and/or sunlight?

[@StKrane]

Thank you so much for this comprehensive overview. I was hoping you would do this video when almost everybody else ran with one piece of data. 🙏🏻

[@Fitzrovialitter]

"One piece of data" is called a datum.

[@CraigHocker]

What I haven’t seen is any evidence discussed of increased risk of atrial fibrillation in populations that have a high fish diet leading to a high percentage of Omega-3 fatty acids in their cell membranes. For example, in Japan. If this is real, is a higher rate of atrial fibrillation observed in the cohort that eats fatty fish daily. Is there any evidence like this?

[@tracylaing3639]

Me too heart skipping beats. Im 65 yrs. Walk 2 hours a day, 12k..and/or gym . Dose dependent l have just learnt

[@justgivemethetruth]

How does the fish oil capsules translate to fish oil out of the bottle. The recommended dose of my fish oil is 1 teaspoon per day, or like Cod Liver oil, etc. According to these studies is that too much. I was taking fish oil capsules, but they are expensive, and I have a hard time swallowing those big capsules. I was listening to a researcher on KZbin, of course, and he was talking about dementia which is what I am most concerned about. He said take B1, B2, B6, B12, D, and fish oil, and eat a healthy diet. I'll take vitamins religiously for a few weeks and then slack off, and then do it again. I have a probably irrational belief that taking vitamins every day makes it harder for your body to digest the vitamins out of regular food. Like a body can get lazy in digestion. Maybe you could comment on that.

[@Nobody-Nowhere]

Would be cool to know is this about DHA/EPA or fish oil itself, how does it compare to algae-based oils. And what about ALA? There is so little info about ALA, compared to DHA/EPA.

[@NoUseForMySoul]

ALA gets converted to EPA/DHA at very low ratios. As far as I'm aware, positive health effects boil down to the EPA/DHA. That does not make ALA bad, it's just way harder to get a significant effect in a study without feeding a person absurd amounts of ALA.

[@Reversed82]

AFAIK (might be inaccurate) DHA/EPA in fish bioaccumulates from some species of algae, so effectively algae oil is kind of just skipping elements in the food chain. also "algae oil" sounds generic but commercially, as i understand it, it's apparently only viable to produce it via some specific types of micro-algae. i'm _guessing_ it wouldn't matter in the trials whether fish oil or algae oil would be used since it's the same molecule 🤷‍♂

[@hardcorechicano]

I've taken large doses of fish oil for years, it does lower blood pressure but it's just a bandaid to a long lasting problem, it's better to watch your sodium intake and learn to fast......

[@dstowe-bf5ik]

One thing you did not cover is People that take lower doses of Omega 3 like MegaRed -3 Fish & Krill Oil Advised. That’s 500mg Total. Omega- 3 Fatty Acid 339mg EPA and DHA together 314mg For 500mg that is Pacifically made for those that cannot take high doses, but can take a lower dose and get the benefit of such.

[@Jantoené]

Hi I hope you are doing well. I was wondering if you would be open to take a look at a test based nutrition solution?

[@someguy2135]

Besides heart health I take DHA from algae for my brain.

[@Fitzrovialitter]

You must have started too late.

[@HidingFromFate]

@@Fitzrovialitter Ouch. A little acerbic today, are we?

[@Fitzrovialitter]

@@HidingFromFate I hope so!

[@irenegea7644]

Fish oil supplements may INCREASE risk of heart disease and stroke if they're taken by healthy adults, study shows Those who regularly used them with no signs of disease had a 13 per cent higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation and a five per cent greater risk of stroke. But among those who had cardiovascular disease at the start, regular use of fish oil supplements reduced the risk of progressing from atrial fibrillation to a heart attack by 15 per cent and from heart failure to death by nine per cent.

[@anathardayaldar]

I eat a can of sardines every other day and a krill oil supplement capsul every morning. Both for the same reason: because I feel I have to for my health, not for taste. Sardines because they have the lowest mercury, lowest price, lowest effort to prepare. I just wolf it down at the beginning of dinner and hope the rest of dinner will wipe out the fishy aftertaste. Speaking of taste, this is the rare food that I seek out brands with spicey additives to again help hide the taste of fish. Usually I don't buy the spicy version of packaged foods because I wonder if they are trying to hide something and I add my fav spice at home.

[@bearclaw5115]

What about Swedish fish? I've eaten a whole school of them in my life. Any effects beyond sticky teeth?

[@frv6610]

fish is whole food so it is maybe safer

[@gunnarolin1155]

I have been taking fish oil for a long time and I was also diagnosed with arthrial fibrillation. I had an ablation and I got my normal sinus curve back. So there might be some truth in that. I took 20 ml cod oil per day for 1,5 to 2 years. I stop that rutine now and what I get now comes from food.

[@HPLeft]

Complicated subject! I had been taking the Costco TruNature EPA/DHEA product (600 EPA/300 DHEA) for a while but have temporarily discontinued largely due to this study. Of course, I have preexisting cardiovascular issues. I have replaced it at least temporarily with very high doses (3,750 mg) of aged garlic. My worry in using both would be blood-bleeds in the brain - which is one of the dangers of going too far to thin the blood. I've also taken a low dose of Nattokinese for years. Recent research that I've come across on KZbin seems to be suggesting that large doses (either 11,000 or 22,000 - not fully clear on this) of Nattokinese taken twice daily (due to the supplement's half-life...) is capable of removing plaque from arteries. That Vascepa study conducted by company a few years back, combining large dosages of EPA-only with a statin drug also claimed to be capable of removing preexisting plaque from arteries. What to believe? I don't know. It would seem to me that for patients with significant coronary artery buildup, removing preexisting plaque would be the ideal.

[@kirkkelley3791]

T1 diabetic 60 years. Fish oil supplements have always "drasticaly" increased my insulin dose . i.e insulin resistance.

[@pjbeattie1]

So do the benefits of fish oil supplementation for someone with heart disease out way having a-fib? For example, I am a very fit 55 year old with heart disease. I eat virtually no sugars, processed food etc. I eat sardines and salmon almost daily and also take MCT oil and a DHA/EPA supplement and also do have a-fib. I always thought the a-fib was linked to the long duration cardio that I do (long mountain bike/gravel bike rides, long backcountry ski tour days, long paddle board sessions etc) and am just now understanding that perhaps it is not necessarily the workouts but could be the Omega 3’s instead? Or a combo of the two? So should someone put up with the a-fib to get the benefits or is the a-fib worse than the benefits of the Omega 3’s? I will have to ask the cardiologist but honestly I dont have a lot of faith in the doctors that i have been seeing.

[@ratitekeeper]

Very good video that was clear and well nuanced, ending with good answers to what an individual might do, given what we know and how well we know it. Thanks, Gil, for all you do. Would you consider a video specifically about your diet (and any supplements) - What do you eat/take and why? I think given your knowledge and background, a talk about your choices would be helpful!

[@manusharmaaugust]

Is there any clarity on age-dependence? i.e. >65 years of age (or over some age) Omega 3 use has a higher net benefit as risk of cardiovascular incidents goes up with age, but earlier the balance is toward minimal benefit to none.

[@gordonv.cormack3216]

I've taken 900 mg EPA/DHA for a couple of years, although the evidence of benefit is inconclusive. EPA supposedly helps cardio; DHA supposedly helps brain. Or not. Probably the ALA in my diet is sufficient, but who knows for sure. The ALA-to-long chain conversion rate is not high, but is that because the pathway is saturated, or because that's all the body needs/cares to convert? And, as the anti-vegetable-oil crowd likes to claim, Omega-6 conversion follows the same pathway. But if that pathway is not saturated, who cares? I use Canola because it has high ALA and low Omega-6 (mostly monounsaturated) but once again the outcome evidence is pretty sketchy.

[@charlessmith3710]

I know eskimos that eat more than 3 servings of salmon per week are more prone to strokes. So the quantity maybe a a big factor...

[@DarthNoshitam]

What about the benefits of fish oil for mental health and joint health? Seems like there are a lot more benefits of higher dose fish oil than there are risks

[@kbkesq]

Too bad they don’t break out vegan omega 3 vs fish based. A lot of fish oil is contaminated, though the best companies filter it.

[@BM1982.V2]

I wonder if it's specific to fish oil or all omega 3. Fish oil is full of some heavy metals and pollutants from the ocean, so if we look at algae oil and don't find the same effect then we'd know. Algae oil is grown in tanks free from ocean pollution so it would be interesting to see the difference from algae vs fish oil.

[@kbkesq]

Only unanswered question- will atrial fibrillation resolve if one stops taking omegas?

[@pjaworek6793]

Thanks, i reacted instantly to this news by taking smaller sips of strong fish oil. I started taking it earlier together with the protein meal when it is supposedly more effective. Taking it away from bedtime may have improved my sws also

[@noelarwidi3746]

What are your opinions on the risk of oxidation of omega 3 supplements? Seems to be a relatively common occurence and one that is not always super easy to detect. Could it possibly be contributing to some of these side effects?

[@zachcain2639]

Is there any evidence that eating fish will increase the risk of atrial fibrillation?

[@Toaster-v1z]

Where does all this fish oil come from? I find it hard to believe there is enough fish for the vast amounts of fish oil pills produced.

[@tyalangan]

The concern I have with supplements is that they aren’t regulated so there is no way to know if they have high levels of heavy metals in the supplements from the manufacturing process. So, then you have to go down this rabbit hole of who has sent for a third party lab results for contamination, then you have to do your own research into if that third party lab is reputable or can be bought off. Etc etc etc. Now you have to concern yourself with if the benefits of the supplement outweigh the risks of the contaminants in the pills and who can do that?

[@ZsuzsaKarolySmith]

@@tyalangan that’s my concern with food items as well. Just because something is organic doesn’t guarantee that it is free of heavy metals. For example the cacao used in dark chocolate - many of them have high levels of naturally occurring heavy metals, even if they are organically grown and processed.

[@aldeno8055]

Late here but generally the USP label is indicative that the supplement is held up to the same manufacturing standard as prescription medicines

[@Mrm1985100]

In the Reduce-it trial the control group took mineral oil which may have confounded the results.

[@jamesmitchell6925]

Where do fish get their omega 3s? SEAWEED!!! Cut out the middle fish and snack on some nori. Who needs all those heavy metals and PCBs anyway? Our oceans are overfished too. 75% of fisheries are at capacity, over capacity, or have collapsed! Try Dulce flakes to season your meals if you’re not used to the flavor.

[@Scatial]

Algal oils tend to have a high DHA to EPA ratio compared to fish oil. At least one study found better results from higher EPA ratios, so look into that before making your decision. (I haven't thoroughly reviewed the evidence, so I'm not pointing you toward a particular decision.) Also, the recommended doses of omega-3s are around 1g (1000 mg), so you'd need an extremely large amount of nori (10s of milligrams per big serving) to reach that!

[@pynn1000]

Agree, but many fish that we humans eat feed on other fish (e.g. salmon, bass, mackerel) so algae or seaweed (macroalgae) cuts out more than one "middle fish" in these cases.

[@stevelanghorn1407]

I agree with your sentiments, but in terms of actual human health benefits I think it would prove to be a complex “juggling act” to get the balance and “dosage” of the various algal / seaweed species right for the individual. And also gut absorption would be less efficient than via the fat-dense (wild, marine) fish / animal seafood. Obviously if you’re a plant-based eater your suggestion would be the next best thing.

[@gcc8584]

Most seaweed is loaded with heavy metals.

[@santafebites]

I think krill oil helps me with my rheumatoid arthritis. And I noticed when I don’t take it that I don’t concentrate as well.

[@hmbdata]

Huh. I've been titrating my omega 3 index using 1.2g, and I typically eat fish/seafood 2-3x per week. That gets me to about 9-10% on the index, which is near optimal for health (cardio and nervous system). I also get a big benefit on triglycerides, which are around 150 (still a bit high), but down from 400. I'll have to look closer at the afib studies.

[@Nobody-Nowhere]

How often is the fish oil supplement already rancid? This would also be one thing to consider.

[@howarddavies782]

I thought EPA reduced inflammation and DHA was good for the heart and brain. Good video.

[@raibalama]

could it be that the high incidence of AF is because they already have heart conditions leading to AF and not from Omega 3 high dose supplement ?

[@dominicpaterson5897]

I'd be interested whether vegans who eat lots of ALA omega-3 benefit from an algae supplement. I take them currently but I don't really know how much good they're doing me.

[@iotanb1772]

I have low risk of heart problems both in tests & family history, but my eye doctor told me to take 2-3g of fish oil for my chronic dry eyes syndrome & it has helped tremendously. 40 yrs old & working out 4-5 days a week since i was 18. You think its not worth the risk to take 2 potent fish oils per day? I don’t eat fish in general & my diet is high protein high fiber

[@ShazWag]

Do you know if algae oil has higher levels of microplastics than eating fish of fish oil supplements?

[@ChickenDelight-m3p]

What about the rancidity of fish oil? Doesn't it play a role? I wonder whether the studies you mentioned account for this.

[@dennisward43]

Is AF a life threatening disease though or just a condition? Not specifying this could be deterring the very people who need easily absorbed fish oil (especially cod liver oil) most.

[@arvidlystnur4827]

I take ALGAL (algae) supplements for DHA. They don't supply much EPA, so I take fish oil pills. If I could afford salmon once a day, I'd take no supplements. Special note: properly farmed Atlantic salmon is the cleanest, most sustainable and highest source of omega 3, IF FARMED PROPERLY! Unfortunately most farmed fish is done wrong.

[@Daniel_Maxin]

This 49% increased risk is relative risk right? What is the absolute risk of getting AF in that study? I think it was pretty low, unless I am mistaken. Also, since fish oil is so close to the real thing from the fish itself, is it possible someone gets AF from consuming a lot of the fish itself. Why and why not? I have a can of mackerel that says it has 3500 mg of omega-3. If I were to believe that, eating three of those a week puts me well above 1000 mg a day, i.e. in the riskier category.

[@HS-pm2zw]

Hi Gil, Can you please make a video to review the evidence available regarding Omega3 (fish consumption not supplementation) and prostate cancer? Thank you so much for the great, unbiased content you provide.

[@AB-Guitarist]

Japan population has a 8 index omega 3 having a 5 year longer life expectancy, the study I saw was from Dr. Rhonda Patrick

[@the_hate_inside1085]

From my understanding the fish gets their omega 3 from algae, and plankton, since this is the base of the marine ecosystem. fish don't make their own omega 3 out of thin air, instead they transform plant omega 3 into fish omega 3. This is not a process that occurs in the same degree in humans, and I don't think plant based omega 3 has the same benefits for us.