Can fish oil pills fix insulin problems without losing weight?
Differential effects of high dose omega-3 fatty acids on metabolism and inflammation in patients with obesity: eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Insulin sensitivity improvements persisted for a month after stopping omega-3, even though all other biomarkers reverted.
Most supplements only work while you’re taking them—this suggests omega-3 may trigger lasting metabolic reprogramming, which is rare and poorly understood.
Practical Takeaways
Take 4.8g daily of EPA+DHA (e.g., 8 capsules of 600mg omega-3 each) for 3 months if you have insulin resistance or prediabetes—even if you’re not losing weight.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Insulin sensitivity improvements persisted for a month after stopping omega-3, even though all other biomarkers reverted.
Most supplements only work while you’re taking them—this suggests omega-3 may trigger lasting metabolic reprogramming, which is rare and poorly understood.
Practical Takeaways
Take 4.8g daily of EPA+DHA (e.g., 8 capsules of 600mg omega-3 each) for 3 months if you have insulin resistance or prediabetes—even if you’re not losing weight.
Publication
Journal
Frontiers in Nutrition
Year
2023
Authors
Angélica I. Borja-Magno, M. Guevara-Cruz, A. Flores-López, S. Carrillo-Domínguez, J. Granados, C. Arias, Mary Perry, B. Sears, H. Bourges, F. E. Gomez
Related Content
Claims (6)
Eating more fish oil fats called EPA and DHA may help lower inflammation in your body and brain.
When obese women take a high dose of omega-3 fish oil supplements, their blood levels of a certain inflammation marker drop while they're taking it, but go back up after they stop. However, their cells still keep the gene for that marker turned down, which means the body is handling the marker in two different ways.
Taking a high dose of omega-3 fish oil every day for three months doesn't make obese women lose weight or change their muscle or fat levels — but their metabolism and inflammation might still get better anyway.
Taking a specific type of fish oil daily for three months may help lower insulin levels in obese Mexican women between 25 and 45, and the benefit might last even after they stop taking it — without needing to lose weight.
Taking a high dose of fish oil daily for three months may calm down certain immune cells in overweight women, and this calming effect can last for at least a month after they stop taking it.