CONSIDERATIONS IN FAVOR OF THE USE OF FISH OIL FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT IN OLDER ADULTS

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oils) cause many metabolic benefits such as reductions in hypertriglyceridemia, blood pressure, markers of inflammation that may help to prevent or treat cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly in older high risk patients. However, recent meta-analyses question these health benefits of fish oil supplementation. Studies show fish oil to be beneficial in cardiovascular health particularly when combined with physical activity and low cholesterol diet even though certain cardiovascular medications can interact with fish oil to affect its clinical response. In this review, we present clinical, behavioral and pharmacological factors such as age, genetics, gender, medications and lifestyle which can influence patients’ biological responses to fish oil supplementation. We conclude that these factors, which are not typically accounted for in many clinical trials, may significantly contribute to the negative findings of these meta-analyses.