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Fish Oil and AFIB

Posted by beebo @beebo, Jan 3, 2025

I’ve had various levels of AFIB for quite some time and I’m currently not having any issues or problems since most recent ablation.
I have been taking fish oil supplements, but now I’m hearing that it might be a trigger for AFIB. I guess I should stop taking them but I’d like to hear any advice from here about that. Thanks

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gloaming | @gloaming | Jan 4, 2025

Here is some more food for thought (sorry, had to...):
https://www.bottomlineinc.com/life/food/walnuts-or-fish-oil-how-to-get-the-right-omega-3s
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330431799_Nut_Oils_and_their_Dietetic_and_Cosmetic_Significance_a_Review
https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/2012/06/21/ask-the-expert-healthy-fats/
The wisdom is that a well-balanced diet is about the best anyone can do for themselves. Everything in moderation and all that. Limit saturated fast, go for mono and polyunsaturated fats, and those rich in DHA, linoleic acid (that isn't so old and oxidized that it has become rancid , and this applies to all seed and nut oils), and other micronutrients that are often found in the fats.

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beebo | @beebo | Jan 4, 2025

Thanks for sharing this- very helpful information.

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beebo | @beebo | Jan 4, 2025

Thanks for this. I’m on Eliquis also. I’ll bring this to on my upcoming doctor visit.

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beebo | @beebo | Jan 4, 2025
In reply to @harveywj "Below is a comprehensive article on diet, supplements and Afib. It is easy to understand and..." + (show)
Profile picture for harveywj @harveywj

Below is a comprehensive article on diet, supplements and Afib. It is easy to understand and for those interested it is contains abundant amount of information.
"Dietary interventions in the management of atrial fibrillation
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1418059/full
As for taking nut oils as a supplement I know of no nut oils that are used as a supplement like in a pill. Using health oils in dietary cooking and preparing foods is different than taking oils as a supplement. The only oil that is known to be used for cardiovascular health is flax seed oil. Note that flax seed oil and some other nut oils are high in alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid. Fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines provide the other forms of omega-3s (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid).
As a prostate cancer survivor x 24 years I have learned to carefully limit consuming high amounts of α-linolenic acid because it is associated with a significant increase in risk of prostate cancer.
"A 24-year prospective study of dietary α-linolenic acid and lethal prostate cancer"
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29315549/
FYI "11 Best and Worst Oils for Your Health"
https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/best-worst-oils-health/

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Thanks for sharing. Very helpful info.

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beebo | @beebo | Jan 4, 2025
In reply to @amu45sin "I get minetested once year. Uf you are on any heart medicine. You nee to take..." + (show)
Profile picture for amu45sin @amu45sin

I get minetested once year. Uf you are on any heart medicine. You nee to take a statin also.
BUT... You must also take Coenzyme Q10 as statins also can wear down the organs. Health to you!

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Thanks. I’m on a low dose statin as well. My previous doctor told me I could quit taking it, but my new doc recommended I stay on it as a precaution.

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beebo | @beebo | Jan 4, 2025

I have a doctors visit coming up soon and I will discuss this with him. Thanks!

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normanchester | @normanchester | 3 days ago

I'm hearing this too and I would like to know the truth

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beebo | @beebo | 2 days ago
In reply to @gloaming "You should get a formal and comprehensible (for you) assessment of your risk if you take..." + (show)
Profile picture for gloaming @gloaming

You should get a formal and comprehensible (for you) assessment of your risk if you take the oil and if you decide to forego it from henceforth. If your ablation was successful, then you probably don't have much to worry about, especially if you only take a small dose of the oil. If you're taking more than the daily recommended, or more than what your own physician says you should take (he she knows you best and has other information about you that will help with the decision), then you must be able to compare the relative personal risk of recurring AF over what you hope to prevent, also as a probability, if you stop taking the oil.

You can get decent protection by using other oils, not just fish oil, or walnuts, or avocado...several other options.

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@gloaming Thanks!

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rich705 | @rich705 | 2 days ago
In reply to @harveywj "Below is a comprehensive article on diet, supplements and Afib. It is easy to understand and..." + (show)
Profile picture for harveywj @harveywj

Below is a comprehensive article on diet, supplements and Afib. It is easy to understand and for those interested it is contains abundant amount of information.
"Dietary interventions in the management of atrial fibrillation
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1418059/full
As for taking nut oils as a supplement I know of no nut oils that are used as a supplement like in a pill. Using health oils in dietary cooking and preparing foods is different than taking oils as a supplement. The only oil that is known to be used for cardiovascular health is flax seed oil. Note that flax seed oil and some other nut oils are high in alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid. Fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines provide the other forms of omega-3s (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid).
As a prostate cancer survivor x 24 years I have learned to carefully limit consuming high amounts of α-linolenic acid because it is associated with a significant increase in risk of prostate cancer.
"A 24-year prospective study of dietary α-linolenic acid and lethal prostate cancer"
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29315549/
FYI "11 Best and Worst Oils for Your Health"
https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/best-worst-oils-health/

Jump to this post

@harveywj
good article

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carbcounter | @carbcounter | 2 days ago
In reply to @gloaming "Here is some more food for thought (sorry, had to...): https://www.bottomlineinc.com/life/food/walnuts-or-fish-oil-how-to-get-the-right-omega-3s https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330431799_Nut_Oils_and_their_Dietetic_and_Cosmetic_Significance_a_Review https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/2012/06/21/ask-the-expert-healthy-fats/ The wisdom is..." + (show)
Profile picture for gloaming @gloaming

Here is some more food for thought (sorry, had to...):
https://www.bottomlineinc.com/life/food/walnuts-or-fish-oil-how-to-get-the-right-omega-3s
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330431799_Nut_Oils_and_their_Dietetic_and_Cosmetic_Significance_a_Review
https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/2012/06/21/ask-the-expert-healthy-fats/
The wisdom is that a well-balanced diet is about the best anyone can do for themselves. Everything in moderation and all that. Limit saturated fast, go for mono and polyunsaturated fats, and those rich in DHA, linoleic acid (that isn't so old and oxidized that it has become rancid , and this applies to all seed and nut oils), and other micronutrients that are often found in the fats.

Jump to this post

@gloaming the issue of EFAs and omega balance is incredibly important, and complex, and needs far more research!

I just wanted to throw in that there is some chatter that you may want to limit the polyunsaturated fats, and that even some saturated fats may be harmless or even beneficial especially shorter-chain versions like coconut oil.

The thing about fish oil, and this may be involved in the issue with afib, is that most people need more omega-3 in order to establish the right balance with omega-6, that we all tend to over-consume these days, and further that some omega-9, most available in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), needs to be in the balance, too. But there are endless varieties of each of these omegas and it just gets crazy. Yet these factors all have to be controlled, and they seldom are, or any study is going to be virtually meaningless.

It also turns out there are at least three ways to prepare fish oil supplements, as esters, as triglycerides, and as lysophospholipid, and ... etc. In natural sources they tend to the latter two. The absorption and delivery past the blood-brain barrier vary greatly. Plus, you may want to make sure your diet (or supplements) include the basic omega-3 ALA, as well as the fish oil, in any nutrition plan.

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