In the past 10 years, many Americans have turned to omega-3 fish oil supplements, which have benefits for healthy people and also those with heart disease. Omega-3
fish oil contains both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that are important in preventing and managing heart disease. Findings show omega-3 fatty acids may help
to: The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that everyone eats fish (particularly fatty, coldwater fish) at least twice a week. Salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, lake trout,
and tuna are especially high in omega-3 fatty acids. While foods are your best bet for getting omega-3s in your diet, fish oil supplements are also available for those who do not like fish. The heart-healthy benefits of regular doses of fish oil supplements
are unclear, so talk to your doctor to see if they're right for you. If you have heart disease or high triglyceride levels, you may need even more omega-3 fatty acids. Ask your doctor if you should take higher doses of fish oil supplements to get
the omega-3s you need. The AHA says taking up to 3 grams of fish oil daily in supplement form is considered safe. Don't take more than that unless you discuss it with your doctor first. Side effects from omega-3 fish oil may include: Taking more than 3 grams of fish oil daily may increase the risk of bleeding. If you want to take higher doses of omega-3 fish oil
supplements, talk to your doctor first. Your doctor can guide you in supplementing your diet with omega-3 fish oil. Also, your doctor can monitor all aspects of your health if you take higher doses of fish oil. For people with very high triglyceride levels, prescription omega-3 preparations are also available. Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements for Heart Disease
How much omega-3 fish oil is safe?
Are there side effects with omega-3 fish oil?
Is There A Best Time To Take That Fish Oil Supplement? Experts Weigh In
Author: Expert reviewer:
December 27, 2021
Certified holistic nutrition consultant
By Lindsay Boyers
Certified holistic nutrition consultant
Lindsay Boyers is a nutrition consultant specializing in elimination diets, gut health, and food sensitivities. Lindsay earned a degree in food & nutrition from Framingham State University, and she holds a Certificate in Holistic Nutrition Consulting from the American College of Healthcare Sciences.
Expert review by
Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN
mbg Vice President of Scientific Affairs
Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN is Vice President of Scientific Affairs at mindbodygreen. She received her bachelor's degree in Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania and Ph.D. in Foods and Nutrition from the University of Georgia.
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Here's what experts want you to know about the best time to take your fish oil supplement so that your body can put those must-have healthy fats to good use.
The health benefits of fish oil supplements.
Despite their long, long list of helpful properties, though, most people don't get enough omega-3s. "If you aren't regularly eating cold-water fish or flax or walnuts, you may be deficient and could benefit from the use of a supplement," says Nicole Avena, Ph.D., assistant professor of neuroscience at Mount Sinai Medical School and visiting professor of health psychology at Princeton University.
Another factor that makes supplementing even more appealing: Upping your intake of omega-3s can help balance the important ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in your diet. While omega-6 fatty acids, another type of polyunsaturated fat primarily found in vegetable oils (e.g., canola and soybean oils), nuts, and seeds, aren't inherently bad, they can contribute to inflammatory pathways when eaten in excess5—which is very much the case in many Western diets.
"Modern agriculture produces vast amounts of omega-6s, and as a result, we eat much more of this fat category than our ancestors (or even our grandparents) did," says nutritionist Colette Heimowitz, M.Sc., nutrition communication and education for Simply Good Foods. On average, Americans eat about 10 to 20 times as many omega-6 fatty acids as omega-3s,6 thanks in large part to overconsumption of processed foods, which are often high in vegetable oils and severely lacking in omega-3s. (Turns out the ideal ratio is 2:17.)
In a perfect world, we'd all completely ditch the processed foods and omega-6-rich oils and consume fish at least twice a week (that's the baseline or starting point), but since doing all of these things just might not be realistic for a variety of reasons, supplementing our intake of omega-3s can be an incredibly helpful tool. "Since we do not eat enough fish, supplementing with fresh, quality fish oil is good insurance," Heimowitz says.
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When it comes to fish oil, the specific time of day doesn't seem to matter as much as the types of food you pair your supplement with. "The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to be better absorbed when taken with a fat-containing meal rather than on an empty stomach,"* says Heimowitz.
Avena agrees: "This can increase the bioavailability of the omega-3s, meaning that you are more likely to absorb them."*
It's worth noting, though, that the form of fish oil you take can also influence your ability to absorb those omega-3s—and how important it is that you pop your supplement alongside a meal.* The omega-3s in fish oil supplements come in two major forms: triglycerides (a more natural form, like the kind you find in actual fish) and ethyl esters (a further processed form that may cost you more in the long run).
Here's the deal on these two options: According to a 2020 randomized controlled clinical trial published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition8, absorption of triglyceride forms is three to five times higher than that of ethyl esters. Blood levels of EPA and DHA also remain higher 24 hours after taking triglycerides compared to ethyl esters.*
The researchers of another study9 (that's older but still relevant), meanwhile, looked at the difference that high-fat meals have on absorption rates of triglyceride versus ethyl ester forms of fish oil. They found that without the high-fat meal, the absorption rate of ethyl esters hovered around 20%. With the fatty meal, absorption increased to 60%. For triglycerides, meanwhile, absorption was much higher, at 69% without a high-fat meal and 90% with one.
All of this suggests that taking your fish oil supplement with (or around the time of) a fat-containing snack or meal is always a good idea, but that there's much more at stake when it comes to absorption if you're popping an ethyl ester form supplement over a triglyceride one.*
How can you tell which form a product contains, though? Most companies that feature the native form of fish oil/fat (i.e., triglyceride form) of omega-3s in their fish oil are proud of it—and call it out right on the label. Take a look at the Supplement Facts panel on a bottle of mbg's omega-3 potency+, for example, and you'll see "EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid triglyceride)" and "DHA (docosahexaenoic acid triglyceride)" specifically highlighted beneath the breakdown of "total omega-3s" per serving.
Whichever form of omega-3s you take—and whenever you choose to take your fish oil supplement—your consistency ultimately has the final impact on how much you benefit. "The health benefits of using daily fish oil supplements are long term, not immediate,"* Avena says. "So, taking them regularly is more important than the time of day you take them."
Are there any bad times to take fish oil, then?
Given all of this, there's no bad time to take fish oil, per se—but there is a factor or two you'll want to think about.
If you've ever taken a fish oil supplement (or at least considered it), you've probably heard about a not-so-pleasant potential side effect known as "fish burps." Some people find that taking their supplement on an empty stomach makes fishy-smelling belches worse.
In many of these cases, taking your supplement with a meal and with a natural citrus component to combat fish aftertaste can be helpful. (mbg's omega-3 potency+ also features an infusion of organic lemon oil for this very reason.)
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The takeaway.
Taking a fish oil supplement can help balance your omega-3 to omega-6 intake and provide your body with a slew of heart, brain, joint, and eye benefits.* There's no perfect time of the day to take your fish oil supplement, but combining it with a meal rich in healthy fats can maximize absorption and lead to the greatest payoff.* The triglyceride form of fish oil is the biggest bang for your buck according to the science. Whatever time of day you decide to supplement at, the most important thing is consistency, so get into whatever habit works for you and stick to it long term.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.