What Are the Benefits of Fish Oil for Dogs and Cats?
For Your Heart, Eat Fish Or Take Pills? Now There's A Drug Equal To 8 Salmon Servings
For Your Heart, Eat Fish Or Take Pills? Now There's A Drug Equal To 8 Salmon Servings
Enlarge this image toggle caption Enn Li Photography/Getty Images Enn Li Photography/Getty Images
It's long been known that eating fish — especially cold-water fish such as salmon that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids — is good for heart health.
But, for the millions of Americans who are at high risk of heart disease, eating enough fish to make a difference isn't likely to be realistic for most.
There's growing evidence that taking a very high dose of purified fish oil, delivered in a prescription pill, can help prevent heart attacks and strokes among people who have elevated risks. The amount of fish oil in the daily recommended dose of the pill is the equivalent of eating about eight to 10 servings of salmon a day.
In early November, an advisory panel to the FDA voted unanimously to approve expanded use of the prescription drug, Vascepa, which is made from one type of omega-3 fatty acid, called eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA for short. The oil is extracted from sardines and anchovies, and then purified.
Currently, Vascepa is already approved for use in people with very high levels of triglycerides — which is a type of fat in the blood. (You can check your triglycerides as part of a cholesterol screening.)
Now, the drug may soon be approved for use for a much wider group of Americans: people who've already had a heart attack or stroke, as well as people who have Type 2 diabetes and an additional risk factor such as high blood pressure.
This could add up to millions of adults in the U.S., given the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and other risk factors.
"The panel felt very strongly that this fish oil product [Vascepa], taken in addition to statins, reduced cardiovascular disease," says Peter Wilson, a professor of medicine at Emory University, who was on the FDA advisory panel.
(Wilson does not have any financial ties to the drugmaker.)
Statin medications work well to reduce LDL cholesterol, the so-called bad cholesterol. Statins can also help to reduce triglycerides to some extent. But adding fish oil can have an added benefit of further reducing triglycerides — which can help lower the risk of heart disease.
Evidence comes from a clinical trial that included about 8,000 people who had established cardiovascular disease or diabetes and other risk factors. One group of participants took 4 grams of the fish oil drug per day; others took a placebo. The trial lasted nearly five years.
"The trial showed convincing evidence for reduction of heart attack, stroke and and cardiac-related death, approximately a 25% reduction," Wilson says. The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
When it comes to over-the-counter fish oil supplements, which are widely available at grocery stores and drugstores, there's mixed evidence of effectiveness.
"Some studies show benefit, some not," explains Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist who is dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. He says almost all the studies have tested relatively low doses, such as 1 gram a day.
By comparison, the prescription drug, at a dose of 4 grams a day — delivers much more fish oil. Mozaffarian says people with elevated triglycerides benefit from the higher doses. "The more you take, the more triglycerides are lowered," he says.
(Mozaffarian is involved in separate clinical trials of different omega-3 and fish oil drugs and receives honorarium payments from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.)
In addition to delivering a higher dose, some medical experts say a prescription formulation of fish oil may be more reliable than a dietary supplement.
"Pharmaceutical drugs are regulated by the FDA, so the manufacturing has to meet high standards, so you can be sure that when you take it you are getting the amount listed on the label, and it is safe and free of impurities," says Cecilia Low Wang, another member of the FDA advisory panel and a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
(Low Wang has no financial ties to the companies producing pharmaceutical fish oil.)
"Dietary supplements are not held to the same standard and are not required to demonstrate this level of quality, safety or effectiveness before being marketed," Low Wang says.
For healthy people who don't have elevated risks for heart disease, eating fish is a good way to get omega-3s. "For the general population, I recommend people eat fish or seafood — one or two servings a week," Mozaffarian says.
There are also plant-based sources of omega-3s such as flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, soy foods and pumpkin seeds.
As for the recommendation to expand the use of Vascepa, the FDA typically follows the advice of its advisory panels and is expected to decide on expanded approval by the end of the year.
The cost of the drug is about $300 per month. Out-of-pocket costs to people who are prescribed the drug would be lower depending on insurance coverage and copays.
6 Amazing Benefits From Taking Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements, According To Scientists
Fish oil dietary supplements are booming in popularity among people looking to enjoy a variety of health benefits without actually eating fish multiple times per day. That’s because omega-3 fatty acids represent vital roles in the body’s function.
Omega-3 fatty acid supplements typically come in three forms: Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Individuals looking to consume more healthy fatty acids via food should eat more oily fish, flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, and related oils. Some foods like eggs and milk are often fortified with the three types of omega-3 fatty acids.
So why do so many health experts recommend adding more fish oil to your diet? StudyFinds has published many studies over the years documenting research on fatty acids. Here are six benefits gathered from actual studies showing the real value of omega-3s.
Omega-3 supplements could add 5 years to your life!
Add oily fish to the dinner menu tonight, especially if you want to live longer. Research finds that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood contributes to a lifespan about five years longer than the norm. The exciting finding comes from scientists at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute in Spain and The Fatty Acid Research Institute in the United States.
Just a one-percent increase in omega-3 levels reduces a person’s risk of death as much as quitting smoking, scientists claim. Their study shows measuring these levels in the blood can be an extremely effective tool for calculating life expectancy.
“Having higher levels of these acids in the blood, as a result of regularly including oily fish in the diet, increases life expectancy by almost five years,” says study author Dr. Aleix Sala-Vila.
Lowers risk of heart attack, cardiovascular disease
Harvard University conducted an analysis on the subject of omega-3 fish oil supplements and found an association between daily ingestion and a reduced risk of heart attack and most cardiovascular diseases.
Their research included data from over 120,000 adults across 13 randomized trials worldwide, including three recent large-scale trials. They found that people who received a daily omega-3 fish oil supplement had an 8% lower risk of heart attack, death from coronary heart disease.
Researcher suggest that omega-3 dosages above the typical amount (840 mg/day) used in most randomized clinical trials may provide even greater reductions in cardiovascular riss/.
READ MORE: Study: Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements May Lower Risk Of Heart Attack, Cardiovascular Disease
Fish oil may be an effective treatment for depression
Stem cell technology provides scientists with a research tool of seemingly limitless capacity. Using “depressed” human stem cells, scientists in Chicago find that fish oil can be added as an “antidepressant.”
Their study took skin cells from two types of depressed patients: those who previously responded to antidepressants, and those who didn’t. It shows that fish oil produces an antidepressant effect in stem cells taken from adults who have been clinically diagnosed as depressed.
Results of the study also show that a stem cell model can be used to study response to treatment and that fish oil as a treatment, or companion to treatment, for depression warrants further investigation.
READ MORE: Fish Oil For Depression? Stem Cell Study Shows Supplement May Be Effective Treatment
Omega-3 fatty acids stabilize memory in patients with Alzheimer’s
A study reveals that Alzheimer’s disease patients taking daily omega-3 supplements saw their performance in memory tests remain steady in comparison to other patients not consuming the nutrient.
Researchers examined 33 people with mild to moderate symptoms of Alzheimer’s. From that group, 18 took omega-3 supplements in the morning and evening while the other 15 did not. Spinal fluid samples were taken from participants, which can contain biomarkers of the disease. Study authors also gave a memory test at the start of the study and six months later. Although the fluid samples didn’t show a significant change, the group’s performance in memory tests was clearly visible.
Results show that memory function of the patients in the group that had taken omega-3 remained strong, whereas the patients in the control group deteriorated in the same amount of time.
READ MORE: Omega-3 fatty acid can stabilize memory in patients with Alzheimer’s disease
May help lower breast cancer risk
Fish oil supplements appear to alter the breast microbiome and reduce cancer risk. That conclusion comes from researchers with the Wake Forest School of Medicine.
Their study involved human breast cancer patients in a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients consumed either a placebo or fish oil supplements for two to four weeks before undergoing a lumpectomy or mastectomy.
The results reveal that adding fish oil to a patient’s diet changes the microbiome in both non-cancerous and malignant breast tissue. Researchers say that those taking the supplements for four weeks had more Lactobacillus — a type of bacteria scientists say can decrease breast cancer tumor growth — in the normal tissue surrounding a tumor. The team also found fewer Bacteroidales and Ruminococcus microbes in the group’s breast tumors. The significance of this change, however, is still unclear.
READ MORE: Adding fish oil supplements to your diet can help lower breast cancer risk
Omega-3 fatty acids can improve attention in children, compared to ADHD drugs
An international study finds that omega-3 fish oils can actually treat ADHD symptoms in certain children and improve attention just as much, or more, than many leading medications.
For the study, 92 children diagnosed with ADHD between the ages of 6-18 were separated into two groups. The first group received high doses of the omega-3 fatty acid EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) for 12 weeks, while the other group was given a placebo for the same amount of time. Results show that the children in the experimental group who already had low levels of EPA in their blood improved significantly in focused attention and vigilance scores.
It suggests that fish oil supplements are at least as effective for attention as conventional pharmacological treatments among those children with ADHD who have omega-3 deficiency. However, parents should always consult with their children’s psychiatrists since the study suggests there could be negative effects for some children.
The omega-3 supplements only worked in children who had lower levels of EPA in their blood. For those children with omega-3 deficiency, fish oil supplements could be a preferable option to standard stimulant treatments.
READ MORE: Study: Omega-3 Fish Oil Just As Effective At Improving Attention In Some Children As ADHD Drugs
Before making any change to your diet or lifestyle routines, you should always consult with your doctor first. There are also numerous companies selling omega-3 fish oil supplements. It’s important to do the research and know who you’re purchasing dietary supplements from, where they’re made, and their overall quality before buying.
What Are the Benefits of Fish Oil for Dogs and Cats?
Fish oils are nutritional supplements with many reported health benefits. For people, fish oils can help reduce the risk of heart attacks, manage high blood pressure and relieve arthritis pain.
With such health benefits for people, you may ask, what are the benefits of fish oil for dogs and cats? In fact, fish oil supplements are one of the most commonly used supplements for pets. Before going through the benefits of fish oil for dogs and cats, let’s first learn about some fish oil basics.
What Are Fish Oil Supplements?
Fish oil supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are fats that have many important functions in the body, such as providing structure to cell membranes and providing energy for the body. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids, meaning that the body cannot produce them; they must be obtained from the diet.
Fish oil supplements, which come in pill or liquid form, have two types of omega-3 fatty acids:
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
These fatty acids are primarily found in cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, pollock, and trout.
What Are the Benefits of Fish Oil?
Using fish oil for cats and dogs offers several key health benefits:
Reduction of Inflammation
Fish oil supplements are well known for their anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, EPA and DHA act as cellular signals to reduce inflammation. Therefore, fish oil supplements help manage inflammatory diseases like arthritis and heart disease. Fish oil can also ease the inflammation from skin allergies, helping your pet to feel less itchy.
If your pet has severe arthritis, fish oil supplements can be used along with traditional pet pain medication to maximize pain relief.
Improved Brain Development and Cognitive Function
DHA, in particular, plays a very important role in how the brain develops and functions. In puppies, DHA supplementation can help with learning and retaining various skills.
In older dogs, DHA can reduce the effects of cognitive dysfunction, which is similar to dementia in people. For example, using DHA supplements can help an older dog better recognize its family members and not feel so easily disoriented.
Slowed Tumor Growth
Interestingly, fish oils can inhibit tumor growth by stimulating the cancer cells to differentiate (turn into specific cell types). When cells differentiate, they have a limited ability to divide and ultimately survive.
DHA has been shown to promote cancer cell differentiation, meaning that the cells cannot continue to divide, and the tumor cannot continue to grow.
Other Benefits
Fish oil supplements have also been shown to reduce abnormal heart rhythms and seizure frequency, as well as reduce levels of triglycerides, which are fats that can be harmful in high amounts.
Do Fish Oil Supplements Cause Any Side Effects?
Fish oil supplements are not toxic to dogs and cats, but they do have side effects.
The most common is fishy odor on the breath or skin.
Other side effects include:
Gastrointestinal discomfort
Oily, flaky skin
Contact your veterinarian if your dog or cat experiences these side effects with fish oil supplements.
Giving Fish Oil to Your Pet
There are so many fish oil supplements to choose from, but your veterinarian can help you determine which fish oil is best for your pet. They can recommend high-quality brands and advise you on how much fish oil supplement to give your pet.
Fish oil supplements come in liquid or capsule form. If your pet does not want to swallow a capsule, you can use a small knife to open the capsule, and then pour the contents onto your pet’s food.
Most commercial pet food formulas contain omega-3 fatty acids. However, EPA and DHA can become rancid quickly, so pet food that contains omega-3 needs a proper dog food storage container to prevent the food from going bad.
Also, these pet foods may contain other omega-3 fatty acids (flaxseed or canola oil) that do not provide the same benefits as EPA and DHA.
Featured Image:
