Is an Omega 3 Supplement a good idea?

[SomersetWife]

I've been reading about the anti-inflammatory properties of Omega fish oils (3-6-9) - I would be interested in any experience with taking this type of supplement and whether it is safe to take with steroids? There is also a bewildering array of different formulations of these supplements, so any advice would be welcome.

[Charlie1boy]

Hi,

I've been taking omega 3 fish oil for the past five and a half years that I've had PMR. Currently, I buy them from Wiley's a Finest.

I am still alive to tell the tale, so they can't be doing me too much harm; how much good they do I'm not sure, but my wife says I should be taking them!

Good luck

Paddy

[Suffererc in reply to Charlie1boy]

Wives always know best ..... I know I am one 😂😂😂😂

[Suffererc in reply to Charlie1boy]

Take that back. I don’t take omega 3 but perhaps it’s not such a good idea .

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Steroids can increase the risk of bruising because it makes the capillaries in the skin fragile - and omega-3 fatty acid supplements can make that worse because they too can lead to increased bruising. You shouldn't take them at all if you are taking any form of anti-coagulant therapy.

[SomersetWife in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for that - I am not taking any form of anti-coagulant therapy, would you say, on balance Omega oils are best avoided, despite their proclaimed anti-inflammatory benefits?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SomersetWife]

Honestly don't know - I have never taken them but eat a lot of oily fish and nuts and seeds. I haven't had the choice for the last 6+ years as I am on anticoagulants. Dietary sources are always better than supplements - and given the cost you can put it towards a better diet

[SomersetWife in reply to PMRpro]

thank you - I hardly ever eat oily fish as I have found it gives me indigestion and my husband is paranoid about microplastics! I will have to give it more thought and perhaps try some fish once again!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SomersetWife]

Has he stopped drinking water too? I fear they can't be escaped.

[SomersetWife in reply to PMRpro]

Haha! Oh that’s so good - I’ll have to tell him that when I dish up some fish! Thank you for making me smile!

[Blackcatlover]

There is a new study out that says taking fish oil supplements does not improve heart health at all. Don’t know if they have studied any other reason to take them. I’m on Actemra and have been advised not to take Tumeric or fish oil because they thin your blood.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

This from my information post - his quote -

“Note - According to Prof. Peretti who is an immunopharmacologist, Omega 3 oil contains a substance that is naturally found in the blood of healthy people, which promotes the 'resolution' of inflammation. So if someone's immune system is compromised by a long term inflammatory condition and their bodies can't 'turn on' their natural resolution mechanisms (as we would normally after a period of acute inflammation, e.g. after a wound or an infection), then taking Omega 3 oil can give them some help.”

[Viv54 in reply to DorsetLady]

I've been taking it for ages now , for me I feel it helps, so I will carry on if you feel it does you good then there you are .

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Viv54]

Quite agree...some would say supplements aren’t necessary, but maybe as we get older we need a bit of help.....and as you say if you think they are doing good, then whose to say they’re not!

[piglette]

I would prefer to include in my normal diet, rather than put money in the coffers of the supplement Providers. Having said that if supplements are recommended by a doctor then I would take them. They reckon that the majority of supplements taken are just a waste of money!

[TheMoaningViolet]

Hi, I add linseed oil (as well as ground linseed and nuts) to my breakfast every day and try to eat oily fish st least twice each week. Nevertheless I do take fish oil supplements as well inspite of the controversy around them (some people say they don't work st all), because if I don't a couple of small joints in my hands start to hurt.

[Mazxstitch]

I take Omega 3 1200mg from Holland & Barrett, 1 capsule a day. I do eat oily fish as well. I also take Pukka Turmeric active organic, 1 capsule a day.

I think they help me and have not noticed any adverse effects.

[diana1998]

We have taken fish oil for years and my husband says he definitely feel stiffer in his muscles if we take a break like going away. We eat fish at least 2/3 times a week as I love it and he puts up with it!!

[Dambusters]

I take Holland and Barrett Omega 3 fish oil 1200mg with Vitamin D3 insead of Alendronic Acid. Bone scan was good.

[Teekay2]

My wife has had many eye operations and she was told to stop the omega 3 two weeks before each operation as it thins the blood and hinders healing. When I mentioned this to my rheumatologist she said she had never heard that before.

[Hummingbird28]

I’ve been taking red krill oil, which contains astaxanthin, for 3 years. I originally started to take it to try to lower my triglycerides which were a bit too high and I had a nasty reaction to statins so wanted to find an alternative. This was before I started with PMR. I wasn’t having as much oily fish as I thought I ought to - not a big fan of herring and mackerel. I did do a bit of research at that time to find out which was the most suitable type of Omega 3 and decided to give the krill oil a try .....felt a bit guilty about the whales though! After about 6 months of taking the capsules my triglycerides came down from 3.5 to 2.9 which i was very pleased with.

As a matter of interest though - I stopped taking them for a few months last November and after having a cholesterol test in February I was horrified to find that my triglycerides were 5.5, which is very high...for me.

I understand that the steroids can have an effect on cholesterol levels, but decided to take the krill oil again to see if it would help to get back to a lower level. I’m going to request another test this week and will be interested to see the results.

I hope this is useful to you.

[SomersetWife in reply to Hummingbird28]

That’s very interesting- I will bear the krill oil in mind if my cholesterol levels change , thank you

[HeronNS]

You may find this interesting:

health.harvard.edu/heart-he...

[Odosmum]

I have taken Omega 3 and 6 (and a multivitamin/multimineral) for more than 20 years. I added Omega 9 when it all became available in a single capsule. I am convinced I benefit from it. If I stop taking it for some reason, the aches and pains start in a couple of days. The reason I started the 6 was as an anti-inflammatory and the 3 for my joints (I have inflammatory arthritis). I had an angiogram recently, and the report said that my arteries were flexible and in good condition. Who knows? The doctors all know I supplement and are quite keen to tell me to continue.

[SomersetWife in reply to Odosmum]

That’s good to hear. - and interesting that you Doctors encourage you to continue.