Omega-3, usually referred to as fish oil, is one of the most frequently-used supplements in the US, especially by people over 60.
Almost a quarter of this age group (21%) take omega-3 supplements, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The body needs these polyunsaturated fats to function at its peak on an everyday basis, but almost 80% of the world’s population has some level of omega-3 deficiency, especially in areas like the US where meat is more of a dietary staple than fish.
The market is flooded with cheap fish oil capsules, so DCs have a responsibility to help their patients choose a top-quality omega-3 supplement, which offers multiple health benefits, including:
Lowered inflammation
Almost 35% of adults have chronic, long-term inflammation going on in their bodies, according to a study in Frontiers in Medicine last year. (Many of the chemicals in our food supply and environment, as well as obesity and high levels of stress, contribute to this problem.) Systemic inflammation substantially increases patients’ risk of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease and several types of cancer.
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids that include EPA and DHA (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), naturally occurring compounds in oily fish like mackerel and salmon, help quell inflammation throughout the body and assist in rebuilding damaged cells and tissues.
As one example of the growing body of research that supports omega-3’s protective power, a study in December 2023 in the journal Cardiovascular Research showed that in men who had suffered a previous heart attack, switching to a diet rich in omega-3-packed fatty fish reduced their overall risk of death from any cause by 29%. Other studies have showed omega-3 consumption may moderately reduce the risk of stroke, especially the ischemic variety caused by a blood vessel in the brain narrowing or becoming blocked.
A better brain
The brain (and the eyes, too) need extra nourishment with omega-3s to thrive and operate optimally, so a diet rich in fish oil through food and supplementation has been shown to help protect against cognitive function decline as patients get older.
A longitudinal study in 2023 that followed up on subjects who used omega-3s over the long term, six or more years, showed they had a 63% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, with the study concluding that overall, omega-3 intake reduced by 20% the chances of developing dementia or cognitive decline due to all causes.
Fish oil supplementation is especially beneficial for those patients who have a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease, a 2024 study published in JAMA Network Open found.
Decreased cancer risk
While overall evidence regarding cancer and omega-3 intake is still inconclusive as a whole—for example, one study found a link between higher omega-3 levels and prostate cancer—some promising research has emerged.
“Fatty acids modulate the production of inflammatory signaling molecules, called eicosanoids, and regulate the inflammatory reaction along with the effect on cell growth,” noted the authors of a 2020 research review published in the journal Advances in Nutrition.
Specific types of cancer also appear more responsive to omega-3 than others. A study from the University of Georgia linked higher levels of omega-3s in the blood to a reduction in risk of developing cancer, specifically including lung cancer and several types of cancer of the digestive tract. High levels of omega-6, another type of fatty acid, were associated with a reduced risk of 14 more cancer types, researchers found.
Enteric coating helps patients take their omega-3s
Despite the popularity of fish oil supplements, many patients dislike the “fish burps” that can accompany taking fish oil in this format. DCs should recommend investing in a premium-quality supplement that is enteric-coated, such as Dee Cee Laboratories’ Omega-3 Enteric.
Enteric coating keeps supplements from dissolving when they hit the acidic environment of the stomach, so fish oil is not released until reaching the small intestine, reducing any fishy aftertaste.
Flavor aside, the enteric coating on a top-quality fish oil supplement also offers patients a significant advantage over lower-quality brands: better bioavailability and absorption. The small intestine absorbs nutrients much more efficiently than the stomach, so the body gets more benefits from each dose. Enteric coating is especially important if patients are taking an omega-3 supplement for a targeted therapeutic purpose.
Advise patients to check the fine print on the supplement label and make sure the enteric coating is of high quality as well; some coatings are made with synthetic materials or chemicals, while others, like the one used on Omega-3 Enteric softgels, are made from vegetable sources and enhance absorption by three times that of uncoated softgels.
Suggest the best: Dee Cee Laboratories’ Omega-3 Enteric
Omega-3 Enteric is formulated with deep-sea fish oil from Norway, purified by a cold process called molecular distillation, in which the oil is evaporated under high vacuum with the condensate collected on a cooled surface. This process removes impurities without any heat.
In just two softgels, patients can experience the benefits of taking 2,000 mg of pure, contaminant-free, pharmaceutical-grade fish oil featuring 600 mg of omega-3 fatty acids.
Explore Dee Cee Laboratories and learn more about their trusted process, FDA-registered facility and rigid quality control guidelines.
