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Nutrition
beginner
Strong Evidence

Omega-3 Intake (EPA+DHA)

Get 2-4g EPA+DHA daily through fatty fish or supplements. Critical for inflammation management, brain health, and cardiovascular protection.

Time
2 min/day
Cost
$20-50
Equipment
None required
Min. Trial
8-12 weeks

Dosage & Timing

Duration
Ongoing
Frequency
Daily
Best Time
anytime

Evidence Strength

4/5 — Strong

Strong evidence for cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits. Some recent meta-analyses show mixed results for all-cause mortality, but benefit in high-risk populations is clear.

Overview

Consume 2-4g combined EPA+DHA per day through fatty fish (2-3 servings/week) and/or supplementation. Omega-3s reduce inflammation, support cardiovascular and brain health, and most people are severely deficient.

How To Do It

1

Eat fatty fish 2-3x/week

Salmon, sardines, mackerel, anchovies. Wild-caught preferred.

2

Supplement the gap

If not eating sufficient fish, supplement with 2-4g EPA+DHA. Look for triglyceride form, third-party tested.

3

Test your omega-3 index

Optimal is 8-12%. Most Americans are 4-5%. Test via OmegaQuant or similar.

The Evidence

Each claim is linked to its source study. Confidence reflects the study design — systematic reviews and RCTs rank highest.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
High Confidence

Marine omega-3 supplementation and cardiovascular disease

Marine omega-3 supplementation showed dose-related reductions in some cardiovascular outcomes.

Primary Literature

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis:Marine omega-3 supplementation and cardiovascular disease (https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.119.013543)

Who Popularized This

Rhonda Patrick
Peter Attia

Interactions & Warnings

Contraindications

  • Fish/shellfish allergy (use algae-based)
  • Blood thinning medications (consult physician)

Interactions

  • High-dose fish oil may interact with anticoagulants

Measurable Outcomes

Improved omega-3 index (blood test)
Reduced inflammatory markers (hs-CRP)
Improved triglycerides
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