Why fish oil might help your blood vessels
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids have distinct effects on endothelial fatty acid content and nitric oxide bioavailability
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Scientists tested how three types of fats affect tiny blood vessel cells in a dish. One fat from fish (EPA) made the cells release more good stuff (nitric oxide) and less bad stuff (peroxynitrite). Another fish fat (DHA) helped a little. A different fat (AA) did nothing.
Surprising Findings
AA didn’t just do nothing—it actively reduced the EPA/AA ratio by 4-fold, suggesting it competes with and suppresses EPA’s incorporation into cells.
Most assume omega-6 fats are just 'neutral' or 'inflammatory'—this shows they actively interfere with omega-3 benefits at the cellular level.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re taking fish oil for heart health, choose a supplement with high-dose EPA (like icosapent ethyl) and minimize omega-6 oils (soybean, corn, sunflower).
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Scientists tested how three types of fats affect tiny blood vessel cells in a dish. One fat from fish (EPA) made the cells release more good stuff (nitric oxide) and less bad stuff (peroxynitrite). Another fish fat (DHA) helped a little. A different fat (AA) did nothing.
Surprising Findings
AA didn’t just do nothing—it actively reduced the EPA/AA ratio by 4-fold, suggesting it competes with and suppresses EPA’s incorporation into cells.
Most assume omega-6 fats are just 'neutral' or 'inflammatory'—this shows they actively interfere with omega-3 benefits at the cellular level.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re taking fish oil for heart health, choose a supplement with high-dose EPA (like icosapent ethyl) and minimize omega-6 oils (soybean, corn, sunflower).
Publication
Journal
Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
Year
2021
Authors
Samuel C.R. Sherratt, Hazem Dawoud, Deepak L. Bhatt, Tadeusz Malinski, R. Preston Mason
Related Content
Claims (6)
Eating fish or fish oil rich in EPA and DHA omega-3s may help make dangerous fatty buildups in your arteries more stable and less likely to burst, by calming down harmful inflammation and helping your blood vessels relax better.
When scientists added a small amount of a common fatty acid (arachidonic acid) to blood vessel cells in a dish, it didn’t change the levels of two key molecules involved in cell stress and signaling—so it seems this fatty acid doesn’t mess with the cell’s internal balance under these specific conditions.
When scientists added a type of omega-3 fatty acid called EPA to blood vessel cells in a dish, the cells made more of a helpful molecule (nitric oxide) and less of a harmful one (peroxynitrite), which might help keep blood vessels healthier and less inflamed.
When scientists added a specific type of omega-3 fat (DHA) to blood vessel cells in a dish, it made them release a little more of a helpful molecule (nitric oxide) that keeps blood vessels relaxed, but didn’t change a harmful molecule (peroxynitrite) — and this effect was smaller than what another omega-3 fat (EPA) does.
When scientists added a specific amount of omega-3 fish oil (EPA) to human blood vessel cells in a dish, the cells soaked up a lot more EPA and ended up with way more of it compared to the bad fats, which is a good sign the cells are using it properly.