The Study
Does omega-3 supplementation added to exercise attenuate inflammaging? Effects on circulating interleukin-6 in older adults: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
This study looked at four smaller experiments where people took omega-3 pills and exercised, and found their inflammation marker went down a little. It doesn't prove the pills caused it, but it's the best kind of evidence we have for that kind of question — like putting together puzzle pieces from other studies.
Analysis score
Maximum 100 for a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Where the score came from
Older adults who took fish oil pills and exercised had slightly lower levels of a body inflammation marker than those who only exercised.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 539 / 100
Quality score
The highest quality evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that pool randomized controlled trials, giving the most reliable summary of experimental evidence.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1The drop is small and its real health impact is unclear — it’s a measurable change but may not mean better strength or less disease.
- 2Fish oil + exercise lowered IL-6 by 0.77 pg/mL compared to exercise alone.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Physical Therapy Journal of Indonesia
Year
2026
Authors
Ni Made, Dian Hartaningsih, D. Wihandani, I. Made, Winarsa Ruma, I. Putu, Yuda Prabawa
Related Content
Claims (2)
For older people, taking omega-3 fish oil pills along with regular exercise may slightly lower a body chemical called IL-6 that's linked to inflammation as we age — but it’s a very small change, and we don’t know if it really matters for health.
Taking omega-3 supplements may help lower inflammation in your body, which you can see through blood tests that measure markers like CRP and IL-6.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.