HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Rapid Responses: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Oh, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Oh, R.

Practical Applications of Fish Oil (-3 Fatty Acids) in Primary Care

From the Department of Family Medicine, MCHJ-FP, Madigan Army Medical Center, Ft. Lewis, Washington

Correspondence: Address correspondence to: Robert Oh, MCHJ-FP, Madigan Army Medical Center, Ft. Lewis, WA 98431 (e-mail: roboh98{at}earthlink.net)

Background: Fish oil (-3 fatty acids) has been studied for more than 30 years. However, recent concerns of mercury and environmental toxins have clouded fish oil’s potential clinical benefits. This article aims to review practical, evidence-based applications of fish oil for the primary care physician.

Methods: PubMed search using key words ‘fish oil,’ ‘docosahexaenoic,’ and ‘eicosapentaenoic’ in title/abstract. Limited to human clinical trials. Articles were further scanned for relevant sources.

Results: For secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, 1 g of fish oil has shown to reduce overall and cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death. Higher doses may be used for its potent triglyceride-lowering effects and for patients with rheumatoid arthritis to reduce nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory use. -3 fatty acid supplementation of infant formula has shown benefit in infant neural growth and development. With the potential health benefits of fish, women of childbearing age should be encouraged to eat 1 to 2 low-mercury fish meals per week.

Conclusions: Fish oil has numerous practical applications for the primary care physician. Understanding the diverse clinical research of -3 fatty acids and fish oil is important in determining its role in primary care practices.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. K. Singh, R. Chauhan, and P. Kushwah Haste in Starting Therapy for Depression J Am Board Fam Med, September 1, 2005; 18(5): 445 - 445. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. C. Oh J Am Board Fam Med, September 1, 2005; 18(5): 446 - 446. [Full Text] [PDF]