Studies

Explore research connecting ingredients and health goals.

27 ingredient–goal connections

GoalReported findings
SupportiveMixedNo effectAdverseUnclassified

Cardiovascular SupportandFish Oil

185published studies

Supportive

The clearest benefit of Fish Oil in the supplied research is lowering triglycerides, particularly when levels are elevated. Some pooled trials also show small blood-pressure reductions in people with hypertension and improvements in selected measures of arterial function. These changes are not universal, and triglyceride reductions can occur alongside an increase in LDL cholesterol.

Evidence for preventing major cardiovascular events is more mixed. Pooled trials suggest fewer heart attacks and coronary events, but large primary-prevention research did not clearly reduce the overall combination of major cardiovascular outcomes or stroke. Benefits may differ with baseline fish intake and existing disease. Findings from highly purified EPA products used in higher-risk patients are not interchangeable with those from ordinary mixed fish-oil supplements.

Safety and starting health status also matter. Observational research associated regular supplement use with more atrial fibrillation in people initially free of cardiovascular disease, while suggesting benefits at some later disease stages. This does not prove cause and effect, but it reinforces that Fish Oil’s cardiovascular value is context-dependent rather than a uniform preventive benefit.

185 linked studies · 26 sampled for detail · Sep 27, 2026

Study types

  • Randomized trial86
  • Narrative review46
  • Meta-analysis17
  • Cohort study14
  • Non-randomized trial5
  • Cross-sectional study4
  • Systematic review4
  • Single-arm trial3
  • Clinical trial2
  • Case-control study1
  • Observational study1
  • Protocol1
  • Scoping review1

Published by year

  • 71Earlier
  • 62010
  • 42011
  • 92012
  • 42013
  • 32014
  • 42015
  • 62016
  • 62017
  • 62018
  • 42019
  • 132020
  • 112021
  • 52022
  • 102023
  • 102024
  • 82025
  • 52026

Findings over time

Numbers above bars show study counts. Earlier groups years before 2010.

20265 studies

  • Supportive3
  • Mixed1
  • No effect1
  • Adverse0
  • Unclassified0

Population over time

Reported participants by publication year. Select a year to see the total and reporting coverage.

— Participant count not reported. Earlier groups years before 2010.

20261,883 reported participants

Counts reported by 3 of 5 studies. 2 without a reported count.

Totals sum reported counts across studies and reviews; participants may overlap between sources.

Explore this goal

Showing 5 top-ranked studies for Fish Oil and Cardiovascular Support.

Top studies

Fish Oil · Cardiovascular SupportHighest ranked first
  1. Marine Omega-3 Supplementation and Cardiovascular Disease: An Updated Meta-Analysis of 13 Randomized Controlled Trials Involving 127 477 Participants.
    2020Meta-analysis127,477 participants13 studies reviewed

    Journal of the American Heart Association

    Finding Excluding REDUCE-IT, marine omega-3 supplementation was associated with significantly lower risks of myocardial infarction, CHD death, total CHD, CVD death and total CVD, with the reported rate ratios and confidence intervals.

    SupportiveView source for Marine Omega-3 Supplementation and Cardiovascular Disease: An Updated Meta-Analysis of 13 Randomized Controlled Trials Involving 127 477 Participants. (opens in a new tab)
  2. Impact of omega-3 fatty acids on hypertriglyceridemia, lipidomics, and gut microbiome in patients with type 2 diabetes.
    2025Randomized trial309 participants

    Med (New York, N.Y.)

    Finding In 309 Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia, fish oil produced a greater triglyceride reduction than corn oil.

    SupportiveView source for Impact of omega-3 fatty acids on hypertriglyceridemia, lipidomics, and gut microbiome in patients with type 2 diabetes. (opens in a new tab)
  3. A systematic review of fish-oil supplements for the prevention and treatment of hypertension.
    2013Meta-analysis1,524 participants17 studies reviewed

    European journal of preventive cardiology

    Finding Across eight studies in hypertensive participants, fish-oil supplements reduced systolic BP by 2.56 mmHg and diastolic BP by 1.47 mmHg, with the reported confidence intervals.

    SupportiveView source for A systematic review of fish-oil supplements for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. (opens in a new tab)
  4. Effects of fish oil-derived fatty acids on suboptimal cardiovascular health: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
    2017Randomized trial422 participants

    Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD

    Finding Mean BMI fell more with n-3 LCPUFA than placebo after treatment.

    SupportiveView source for Effects of fish oil-derived fatty acids on suboptimal cardiovascular health: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. (opens in a new tab)
  5. Effect of High-Dose Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Atherosclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.
    2020Meta-analysis6 studies reviewed

    Nutrients

    Finding In the pooled RCT analysis, high-dose marine omega-3 significantly slowed atherosclerosis progression.

    SupportiveView source for Effect of High-Dose Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Atherosclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. (opens in a new tab)

Counts reflect published studies in our database, not the strength of a benefit. A study may appear in more than one connection.