The Truth About Fish Oil and Peripheral Arterial Disease

Some people believe taking fish oil can prevent peripheral arterial disease (PAD) along with other forms of cardiovascular disease. But, while the heart-health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids have been touted for years, it turns out that there is not a lot of concrete evidence to support it's use for disease prevention. Here's what you need to know.

Fish Oil and Peripheral Artery Disease

Omega-3 supplements are reported to reduce your risk of having a stroke, or developing coronary heart disease. They are also supposed to lower your risk for all forms of cardiovascular disease, including peripheral artery disease.

Remember:
• Coronary artery disease is a condition that narrows your arteries due to atherosclerosis (a build up of plaque).
• A stroke occurs when there is a blockage in blood vessel that runs to the brain.
• PAD develops if there is narrowing in the vessels that deliver oxygenated blood to the legs and feet. Peripheral artery disease symptoms include leg cramps, slowing of toenail and leg hair growth, and more.

Now, inflammation can contribute to heart disease. And fish oil supplements may reduce inflammation. But will fish oil help prevent peripheral artery disease, strokes or coronary artery disease? Well, the results of current research suggest it's not particularly effective.

Will Taking Fish Oil Prevent a Heart Attack?

This review in the Cochrane Database examined 10 studies involving 78,000 high-risk patients taking daily omega-3 supplements for 4 years. They wanted to see if these participants decreased their risk for heart attacks, strokes, or the need for heart surgeries.

Unfortunately, none of the participants experienced a significantly reduced risks for heart attacks or strokes. And participants who had diabetes and took statins to lower their cholesterol saw no heart health improvements. Furthermore, the US Agency for Healthcare, Research, and Quality reports that taking omega-3 supplements does not reduce your heart health risk. As such, it's impossible to say that taking fish oil for peripheral artery disease or heart attack prevention will be effective. (At least not at the currently recommended dose of one gram per day.)

What's Ahead: Fish Oil Supplements and Peripheral Artery Disease

In the future, we may learn that different daily dosages of fish oil can support better heart health. In fact, studies looking at taking 3-4 grams per day are currently in the works. For now, though, we can support your arterial health with scientifically proven treatment and prevention methods. And you can learn more about your options by scheduling a consultation with our vascular specialists in Georgia.