A new study from scientists in Finland has found that the heart health benefits of a fatty acid in fish oil can vary a lot from one person to another.
The research focused on a nutrient called eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, which is a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil. While EPA is already known to help people with high cholesterol or heart disease, its effects on healthy people are less clear.
To learn more, the researchers studied how EPA affects metabolism and blood fats, or lipids, in healthy adults. They gave high doses of EPA supplements to 38 volunteers and collected blood samples before, during, and after the supplement period. Their goal was to see how the body absorbs and uses EPA.
The study showed that EPA is absorbed well and causes its levels in the blood to rise quickly. But those levels also dropped quickly once people stopped taking the supplement. Interestingly, the biggest changes were seen in people who had the lowest EPA levels before starting the supplements.
Even though EPA had an effect on everyone, each person’s results were different. Professor Katariina Öörni, one of the lead researchers from the University of Helsinki, explained that each participant had a unique “lipid fingerprint”—a personal pattern of blood lipids—that didn’t completely change with EPA.
This means that people process fatty acids differently, and their metabolism plays a big role in how well EPA works.
In the study, EPA was found to improve blood lipid profiles. It also reduced the tendency of lipoproteins (fat-carrying particles in the blood) to stick to the walls of blood vessels. This is important because such sticking can lead to atherosclerosis, a condition where arteries become clogged and increase the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
Although the study was short and didn’t track long-term health effects, it still revealed that EPA can help prevent early signs of heart disease, even in healthy people.
Doctoral researcher Lauri Äikäs pointed out that the study also shows how quickly the effects of EPA can disappear once a person stops taking it. This could be useful information if side effects were ever a concern.
The researchers now plan to study how EPA affects inflammation and immune cells. They also want to look into how diet and other lifestyle changes influence a person’s “lipid fingerprint.” According to Professor Öörni, understanding these patterns could help create more personalized ways to protect against heart disease.
In summary, the study shows that while EPA supplements can help improve blood health, their benefits depend a lot on the individual. Personalized nutrition and a better understanding of metabolism could be key in preventing heart problems in the future.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about top 10 foods for a healthy heart, and how to eat right for heart rhythm disorders.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to eat your way to cleaner arteries, and salt and heart health: does less really mean more?
The study is published in JCI Insight.
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