Omega-3 Supplement Lowers Blood Pressure in Study
A three-month trial in Buenos Aires found daily fish oil capsules reduced systolic blood pressure among participants already on treatment.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Nutrition
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Researchers at the Santa Maria de la Salud medical centre in Buenos Aires, Argentina, reported in the journal Nutrients that daily omega-3 fish oil supplements lowered blood pressure over three months. The study involved men and women aged 21 to 70 with high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol, and the supplements did not affect cholesterol levels.
Why it matters
Blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and about 16 million UK adults have high blood pressure, with around five million unaware they have it. The findings suggest a possible supplementary role for omega-3, though the researchers say further study is needed before any broader recommendation.
The peer-reviewed trial recorded a 6.5mmHg daytime systolic reduction and a 5.5mmHg nighttime reduction after three months of two 1,000mg daily capsules, compared with pre-study readings. The study does not report outcomes beyond three months or in people not already on medication.
The details
Participants took two pharmaceutical-grade omega-3 capsules daily, and the researchers believe omega-3 lowers blood pressure by relaxing and widening blood vessels and reducing systemic inflammation. The benefit was seen among participants already taking medication for these conditions, and experts cited in coverage urged caution, noting that the UK recommended intake of 450mg of EPA and DHA daily is not the same as a therapeutic dose.
Timeline
Three months: the study period after which the blood pressure reductions were measured.
Nutrition Context
The findings extend earlier omega-3 research into vascular function, adding a three-month clinical measurement of blood pressure to the body of evidence on fish oil and cardiovascular health. Whether the effect holds at larger scale and over longer periods remains an open question for future trials.
Readers already taking blood pressure medication should not change their treatment based on this study alone, since the benefit was observed only in participants already on medication. Anyone considering a fish oil supplement should discuss it with a doctor first, as the trial used pharmaceutical-grade doses rather than standard over-the-counter products.
The takeaway
A single clinical trial shows promise but does not establish that fish oil is a substitute for prescribed blood pressure treatment. Anyone with high blood pressure should keep monitoring readings and follow their clinician's guidance.
Further reading
Explore more on Nutrition for context on how supplements fit into everyday dietary choices.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Internewscast Journal.
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