Fish oil has the potential to help with weight loss and fat metabolism. Certain factors can these positive effects and others can completely undermine them.
Many studies have explored the effects of fish oil weight loss. However, comparatively few have contended with factors that can influence the results, either positively or negatively. If you search for studies on fish oil vs. weight loss on our national medical database, PubMed, you will find studies that show seemingly contradictory results.
One of the truly helpful studies that include the effects of other factors was published in 2007 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It showed that omega-3 fatty acids (i.e., fish oil) do, indeed, provide positive results for decreasing fat mass and increasing lean mass, whereas omega-6 fatty acids (i.e., sunflower oil) do just the opposite.
Additionally, this study looked at the effects of exercise in combination with fish oil. Moderate exercise 3 days per week, such as walking for 45 minutes at three-quarters of the age-predicted maximal heart rate, is all it take for boosting the benefits of fish oil. In contrast, such benefits are insignificant without exercise.
The bottom line among all the seemingly contradictory results of studies that entail the effects of fish oil on weight loss can be summarized in four take-home lessons:
1) Vegetable oils undermine the benefits of fish oils. This lesson points directly to the modern intake of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in a ratio of about 20:1, which should be closer to about 2:1. In other words, we should consume less vegetable oil and more fish oil.
2) Fish oil is beneficial for losing fat and building lean mass, in combination with moderate exercise. There are almost no such benefits in the absence of exercise.
3) The positive effects from consuming fish oil are also negated by dietary sugar. Fructose and its ubiquitous occurrence in foods and beverages in the form of high fructose corn syrup can be particulary powerful in undermining the benefits of fish oil.
4) The minimum intake of fish oil should be at least 1.5 grams per day, with 2-3 grams being even better. The best fish oil supplements offer the highest amounts of the two main omega-3 fatty acids from fish - i.e., EPA and DHA.
Many studies have explored the effects of fish oil weight loss. However, comparatively few have contended with factors that can influence the results, either positively or negatively. If you search for studies on fish oil vs. weight loss on our national medical database, PubMed, you will find studies that show seemingly contradictory results.
One of the truly helpful studies that include the effects of other factors was published in 2007 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It showed that omega-3 fatty acids (i.e., fish oil) do, indeed, provide positive results for decreasing fat mass and increasing lean mass, whereas omega-6 fatty acids (i.e., sunflower oil) do just the opposite.
Additionally, this study looked at the effects of exercise in combination with fish oil. Moderate exercise 3 days per week, such as walking for 45 minutes at three-quarters of the age-predicted maximal heart rate, is all it take for boosting the benefits of fish oil. In contrast, such benefits are insignificant without exercise.
The bottom line among all the seemingly contradictory results of studies that entail the effects of fish oil on weight loss can be summarized in four take-home lessons:
1) Vegetable oils undermine the benefits of fish oils. This lesson points directly to the modern intake of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in a ratio of about 20:1, which should be closer to about 2:1. In other words, we should consume less vegetable oil and more fish oil.
2) Fish oil is beneficial for losing fat and building lean mass, in combination with moderate exercise. There are almost no such benefits in the absence of exercise.
3) The positive effects from consuming fish oil are also negated by dietary sugar. Fructose and its ubiquitous occurrence in foods and beverages in the form of high fructose corn syrup can be particulary powerful in undermining the benefits of fish oil.
4) The minimum intake of fish oil should be at least 1.5 grams per day, with 2-3 grams being even better. The best fish oil supplements offer the highest amounts of the two main omega-3 fatty acids from fish - i.e., EPA and DHA.
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