Natural Fish Oils Work Better Than Supplements To Reduce Blood Pressure In Lab Mice

Omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish like salmon – but not DHA found in fish oil supplements – helped lower blood pressure via vasodilation at ion channels in a mouse study. U.S. researchers showed that fish oil fatty acids regulate how ions such as sodium, potassium and calcium pass in and out of cells, affecting blood pressure. DHA in the dish oils rapidly activated the ion channels and lowered blood pressure in lab mice. In comparison, a dietary supplement, DHA ethyl ester, found in most fish oil pills, did not activate the same channels, and even antagonized the positive effect of DHA from natural sources. The findings emphasize the importance of obtaining omega-3 fatty acids from natural food sources such as oily fish.