Women's Cardiovascular Center, Jb1, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in fish oil. A high dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids has been strongly linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease in epidemiologic studies. Fish oil supplements lower triglyceride levels and may have other benefits such as preventing arrhythmias, reducing inflammation (although they have minimal impact on C-reactive protein), inhibiting platelet aggregation, and lowering blood pressure, all of which should reduce cardiovascular risk.