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How Many MGs of Omega-3 Fish Oil to Take a Day

There are many reasons why omega-3 fish oil supplements are so popular. Besides lowering cholesterol and helping to prevent cardiovascular disease, omega-3 fish oil may also help prevent conditions such as Crohn's Disease, high blood pressure, and rheumatoid arthritis. It's important to remember, however, that omega-3 fish oil isn't meant to take the place of a healthy, balanced diet. As with any other supplement, such as a multivitamin, omega-3 fish oil should be thought of as nutritional insurance.

  1. Dosages For Healthy Adult Men & Women

    • The World Health Organization recommends a small daily omega-3 dosage of 300 to 500mg. Making matters a bit confusing is the fact that The National Institute of Health suggests 650mg of omega-3 fish oil per day, while the American Heart Association recommends 650 to 1000mg per day. Many adult fish oil supplements come as one-a-day pills containing 1000mg of omega-3, but any dosage over 1000mg per day is clearly unwarranted in an individual with no current coronary heart disease or extremely elevated cholesterol levels.

      Healthy adult men and women should aim for, but not exceed, 600 to 1000mg of omega-3 per day.

    Dosages For Adult Men and Women With Existing Conditions

    • Adults with coronary heart disease, according to The American Heart Association, may benefit from a 1000mg daily dose of omega-3, while adults with elevated cholesterol may improve their condition with a temporary daily regimen of 2000 to 4000mg.

      Do not consume dosages of omega-3 fish oil of more than 3000mg without first consulting a medical professional.

    The Risks of Taking Too Much

    • The most serious side effect of taking too much omega-3 fish oil is a susceptibility to increased bleeding and prolonged bleeding time. Though this sort of side effect is generally seen in daily doses exceeding 3000mg, it is serious enough to warrant concern of daily doses exceeding 2000mg that have not been approved by a medical professional.

      A less serious though highly uncomfortable side effect is gastrointestinal distress and/or diarrhea. Other forms of digestive upset can include acid reflux or indigestion, and stomach ache.

      Less common are incidents of nasal passage inflammation and respiratory infections.

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