Two studies published a month apart are reinforcing the numerous previous studies documenting the cardio benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids.
The first study, conducted on people with preexisting heart failure, found increasing plasma Omega-3 levels by either diet or supplementation was associated with reduced incidence of heart failure and lower risk of death.
The research, published in December 2024 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, included scientists from the Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, Fatty Acid Research Institute, University of Illinois-Chicago and Harvard T.H. ChanSchool of Public Health.
While the study was only observational, it included an extensive analysis of data from a substantial number of people—272,000 adults in the ongoing UK Biobank prospective cohort study.
Heart protection, death protection
The researchers determined that people in the top 20% of plasma Omega-3 fatty acid levels were 21% less likely to develop heart failure compared to people with the lowest levels (bottom 20%). The follow-up period was 13.7 years.
The researchers also tracked the 1,239 people with a heart failure diagnosis at the beginning of the study, and found those in the top 20% of plasma Omega-3 levels were 50% less likely to die from any cause during follow-up compared with those in the bottom 20%.
“These findings suggest that increasing plasma Omega-3 levels, whether by diet or supplementation, could reduce both risk for development of heart failure and death in those with prevalent heart failure,” the researchers wrote in the study conclusions.
It’s worth noting that researchers involved in the study also lamented the fact that “Omega-3 status” is not receiving the attention it deserves. According to the researchers, measuring Omega-3 plasma levels is an accurate “marker” for predicting cardio health issues—and low levels are easy to address with diet and/or supplementing.
“The medical profession needs to take seriously the long-term potential of these simple nutrients to address one of our major health challenges,” said William Harris, PhD, senior investigator on the study and president of the Fatty Acid Research Institute.
More benefit from exercise
The second study, published in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN in January 2025, found combining Omega-3 with exercise improved most of the markers of cardiometabolic health. The markers—fat mass, blood pressure and triglycerides—are the best indicators that a person will suffer cardio-related health issues in the near future.
The study, conducted by Iranian researchers, showed that increasing Omega-3 intake had “slightly superior effects” on cardiometabolic health markers when compared to just performing exercise alone.
To conduct the systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers at the Department of Sport Sciences at the University of Kashan and the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Urmia University searched the literature for studies comparing Omega-3 plus exercise training versus exercise alone.
The meta-analysis included 21 studies involving 673 participants, with participants ages 30 to 70. The researchers found combined Omega-3 and exercise decreased fat mass, triglycerides, blood pressure and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The combination also increased lower-body muscular strength.
Since the meta-analysis did not document improvements in all areas, the researchers termed the benefits as “modest” and hoped more extensive studies would follow.
Interestingly, in 2024 the International Society of Sports Nutrition published its position on Omega-3. The Society noted that Omega-3 provided critical benefits for cardiovascular function, strength and recovery during exercise and noted that many athletes are at risk for Omega-3 deficiency.
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All three Omega-3 essential fatty acids can be found in Optimal E.F.A. by Optimal Health Systems:
• A-linolenic acid (ALA)
• Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
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