Statins are prescription medications that can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. While over-the-counter (OTC) fish oil may have benefits for general heart health, it is not a recommended treatment for cholesterol. Fish oil contains omega-3, a type of essential fatty acid that may have a number of benefits.
There is no evidence that fish oil is good for lowering high cholesterol levels. In fact, some studies show that fish oil can elevate low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol. This finding comes from a review in Pharmacy and Therapeutics .
Omega-3 fatty acids are in a class of medications called antilipemic or lipid-regulating agents.
Bipolar disorder: Taking fish oil might increase some of the symptoms of this condition. Liver disease: Fish oil might increase the risk of bleeding in people with liver scarring due to liver disease. Diabetes: Taking high doses of fish oil might make it more difficult to control blood sugar levels.
However, fish oil supplements can cause mild side effects, including: A fishy aftertaste. Bad breath. Heartburn, nausea or diarrhea.
Niacin. There is some evidence to show niacin (vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid) can lower 'bad' LDL cholesterol and raise 'good' high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, but little evidence that it reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke.
There are many non-statin medications your doctor might prescribe: Bile acid-binding resins, like cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran), colesevelam (WelChol), and colestipol (Colestid) stick to cholesterol-rich bile acids in your intestines and lower your LDL levels.
These are most commonly found in fruits, vegetables including figs, avocados, nuts, oilseeds, oils such as rice bran, olive oil and whole grains including barley, oats, , wholewheat.
The biggest distinction is that omega-3 is a nutrient, whereas fish oil is one source of that nutrient. Omega-3 refers to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The three primary omega-3 fatty acids include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends taking prescription omega-3 to help lower very high triglycerides greater than or equal to 500 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) . People can take 4 g per day of EPA plus DHA or EPA only, either on its own or with cholesterol medication.
The myth that fish oil is a blood thinner started back in the 1970s. It stems from the fact that omega-3 fatty acids can interact with platelets [5], which are blood cell fragments that facilitate blood clotting. While fish oil may help prevent blood clots [6], it doesn't do so by thinning the blood.
Although fish oil supplements don't lower the rate of heart attack or stroke, they may be recommended in some situations. Specifically, EPA and DHA can be used to help lower triglycerides in people with very high triglycerides (over 500 mg/dL), who are at risk for complications such as pancreatitis.
For those looking to improve their heart health by taking a fish oil supplement, our research found Kaged Omega-3 to be the best fish oil supplement for cholesterol due to its very high EPA and DHA dose.
In a number of small studies, the combination of statins and omega-3 fatty acids has been consistently shown to be an effective, safe, and well-tolerated treatment for combined dyslipidemia. Patients with recent myocardial infarction may also benefit from this combination.
If you're taking a statin medication to lower your cholesterol, you will need to keep taking your prescription, or your cholesterol will likely go back up. Stopping your statin can put you at risk of having heart disease and other preventable health problems like stroke and heart attack from high cholesterol.
Most people can lower high cholesterol with lifestyle changes, like prioritizing heart-healthy foods, quitting tobacco products, exercising regularly, and sleeping enough. Making changes to lower your cholesterol might mean you don't need to take cholesterol medication anymore (or deal with the side effects).
For patients who can't tolerate cholesterol-lowering statins, natural remedies like bergamot, garlic and green tea may be a useful alternative, based on a recent statement published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
A low-dose statin like atorvastatin (Lipitor®) is safe for most patients, including those with mild liver enzyme abnormalities.
Vitamin D supplement may have moderate or no effect on the dosage requirement or side effects of pravastatin, rosuvastatin and pitavastatin. Since vitamin D has mild HMG-CoA reductase activity, it will work synergistically with all statins.
Garlic is superior to fish oil in terms of lowering cholesterol. Fish oil has long been the go-to supplement for people trying to boost their cardiovascular health. However, research suggests that aged garlic extract may be even better.
Omega-3 fatty acids include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA and EPA are both found in fish oil. And all three are considered essential, so it is important to have some source of each in a healthy diet.