After one month of taking high-dose fish oil, your red blood cells temporarily get more of a protective antioxidant called alpha-tocopherol, which helps them resist damage from oxidation.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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n-3 fatty acids induce oxidative modifications in human erythrocytes depending on dose and duration of dietary supplementation.

Cohort Study

Human

1996 Sep

After 30 days of taking higher doses of fish oil (n-3 PUFAs), the study found that a protective antioxidant called alpha-tocopherol went up in red blood cells, and the cells became less likely to get damaged by oxidation—exactly what the claim says.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

n-3 fatty acids induce oxidative modifications in human erythrocytes depending on dose and duration of dietary supplementation.

Score: 33

DOI: 10.1093/AJCN/64.3.297

Similar Assertions

After six months of high-dose fish oil, the protective antioxidant in red blood cells drops back down, and the cells become more easily damaged by oxidation — and the higher the dose, the worse it gets.

96%

People who take the highest dose of fish oil for six months end up with more oxidized fat in their red blood cells than those taking a low dose — even if they started with the same level of protection.

89%