Dear Doctor: Do fish oil capsules really have any positive health benefits?

DEAR DR ROACH: Are there health benefits to taking fish-oil capsules? If so, what’s the proper dosage? I’m a fit, healthy 70-year-old male. — C.S.

ANSWER: The benefit of fish oil is one topic in medicine where we seem to keep changing our mind due to studies that yielded some conflicting results.

What is clear is that fish oil reduces triglyceride levels. In people with high triglyceride levels, especially people who are at a relatively high risk due to other reasons (such as diabetes and low HDL cholesterol), then fish oil is a reasonable treatment. Most experts prefer the pharmaceutical-grade icosapent ethyl (Vascepa) or EPA/DHA (Lovaza), which are highly purified and not oxidized.

For people who are at a lower risk, the benefit is probably modest; however, fish oil is generally safe. There may be a small increase in the risk of atrial fibrillation with high doses.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

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