What Are the Benefits of High Dose Fish Oil on Weight Loss?

Fish oil has been touted for its health benefits for years, as a form of healthy fat that includes inflammation reducers like omega-3 fatty acids. It can even increase weight loss, if only slightly.

What is Fish Oil?

• As the name implies, fish oil is taken from the tissue of fatty fish like salmon, albacore tuna and mackerel. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA. All of these substances help to reduce inflammation in the body.

Dosage for Regular Health Benefits

• Because of its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, a regular dosage of fish oil can help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. It can help lower cholesterol levels and can help reduce arterial plaque. An average dose for an adult's health maintenance is about 0.3 to 0.5 grams a day of combined EPA/DHA. That works out to one or two 1000-mg tablets a day.

Effectiveness as a Weight Loss Aid

• The University of South Australia found in a study that fish oil aids weight loss by increasing fat-burning ability and increasing blood flow to muscles during exercise. In another study published in the International Journal of Obesity, researchers from Iceland found that fish oil supplementation increased weight loss speed slightly, all other factors being equal.

Dosage of Fish Oil for Weight Loss

• Based on findings in these studies, about 1.5 to 2 grams a day of combined DHA and EPA is a good amount for helping weight loss. That works out to about five or six 1000-mg capsules a day.

Where to Buy Fish Oil

• Fish oil is widely available these days, most commonly as jars of capsules at your local supermarket or drug store. Slightly higher-quality versions, including brands taken as oil directly from the bottle, are available at health food stores. Make sure to check the quality of your brand before you buy, on a website like the Environmental Defense Fund.