*The following statements about OmegaVia supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Clinical research suggests the omega-3 dosage needed to help maintain healthy triglycerides is 2000–3000 mg per day when used as part of healthy diet and exercise.
What did you learn from your last lipid panel? If you are working on a comprehensive wellness plan, keeping levels within a healthy range is vital, especially as you age.
Triglycerides are the most common type of fat, or lipid, that circulates in the blood. Researchers have long focused on how elevated levels of triglycerides affect the pancreas and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. More recently, there has been significant research on the relationship between omega-3 fatty acids, the compounds found in fatty fish and fish oil, and triglycerides. Let's explore what the science shows.
Understanding triglycerides
While you get triglycerides from the food you eat, your liver also produces them from excess calories, storing the surplus as energy for later use. A small amount of circulating triglycerides is normal and necessary, but heart-related health problems may arise when levels climb too high.
In a 2011 statement, the American Heart Association cited epidemiological evidence that even moderate elevations in triglycerides are associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)1. More recent genetic studies referenced in that research have pointed to triglycerides as a possible causal factor in cardiovascular risk, not just a marker of it3.
Accurate testing must happen after fasting due to their relationship with food consumption, per the Cleveland Clinic, and a normal triglyceride level is below 150 mg/dL, with levels of 150–199 mg/dL considered borderline high, 200–499 mg/dL considered high, and 500 mg/dL or above classified as very high2.
Given the connection between diet and lifestyle and triglyceride levels, researchers have focused on which nutritional factors impact them, and the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish like salmon and mackerel as well as in fish oil supplements, has been of particular interest for decades, as noted by the American Heart Association (AHA). Omega-3 consumption has long been part of general dietary recommendations for heart health.
Omega-3s and blood triglycerides: What the studies found
How have researchers studied omega-3s and triglyceride levels?
The evidence base establishing the relationship between omega-3s and triglyceride levels has grown as studies have been completed and compared. A literature review of 25 randomized placebo-controlled trials found that omega-3 fatty acids, generally studied at pharmaceutical-strength doses, have been linked to changes in triglyceride levels and cardiovascular health research3.
In a 2019 science advisory published in Circulation, the AHA reviewed clinical trial evidence on omega-3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), for hypertriglyceridemia, considering new data and the availability of omega-3s since previous recommendations. The organization concluded that prescription omega-3s at a dose of 4 grams per day (>3 g/d total EPA+DHA) were both safe and effective, with a demonstrable impact on triglycerides as a monotherapy or when combined with other lipid-lowering agents4.
Researchers have also explored underlying mechanisms, finding that the triglyceride-lowering effects observed with omega-3 fatty acids are generally understood to involve reduced production of triglyceride-carrying particles by the liver. However, the exact mechanism isn't yet known5.
Does EPA and DHA concentration affect study outcomes?
In short, yes. EPA and DHA concentrations have affected study outcomes, and results have varied across research. Clinical trials have used everything from whole-food fish oil to highly concentrated, purified EPA/DHA formulations and outcomes have differed3. Researchers have also noted that EPA may have physical and biological properties that are different than those of DHA5.
Similarly, researchers have found that EPA-to-DHA ratios influence lipoprotein effects. Genetic factors add more variability: University of Georgia suggests that triglyceride response to supplementation differs by genotype, regardless of concentration6.
Researchers have also studied omega-3s in more complex populations, such as examining potential interactions with statins since elevated triglycerides can persist even when LDL cholesterol is well managed5.
Dosage andf timing in clinical trials
Clinical trials examining omega-3 supplement benefits have produced mixed results overall, with variations in research methods in key areas such as dosage amounts, omega-3 formulations, and study enrollees7.
How much EPA and DHA have studies typically used?
Amounts of EPA and DHA used in clinical research vary widely depending on the study's goals. In its original 2002 statement, the AHA pointed to intakes of 2–4 grams of combined EPA and DHA per day for research participants with elevated triglycerides, a range used across numerous subsequent trials3. Note: these research doses were studied under clinical supervision and are not a recommendation.
How long did studies run before observing changes in blood lipids?
Study durations investigating omega-3 heart health connections also vary. In one study, participants were randomly assigned 4g fish oil or a placebo for 12 weeks8. Similarly, at the pharmaceutical dose of 3.4 grams of combined EPA and DHA per day, one review of fish oil's triglyceride-lowering mechanisms was observed after one month of treatment9. And studies cited by the AHA in their review article ranged from considerably, from 12 weeks to 52 weeks, and 104 weeks4. These studies are structured around daily intake, which is common.
Diet and lifestyle are the cornerstones of triglyceride management, a common refrain in studies and published guides by medical groups like the AHA.
What foods does research link to healthy triglyceride levels?
A clinical review published by the National Lipid Association found that dietary changes alone can reduce triglycerides by an estimated 20–50%, and some of their recommendations10, many of which are also noted by the AHA, are below9:
- Increasing consumption of omega-3 fatty acids from dietary sources, such as fatty fish, nuts, and other sources of fiber to keep triglyceride levels within a healthy range. Note: non-prescription fish oil products are not interchangeable with prescription omega-3 products since they are not approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to treat high levels of triglycerides.
- Limit alcohol consumption.
- Avoid refined carbohydrates and sugar. The liver converts excess sugar and refined starch into triglycerides, and researchers found that reducing refined grains and sugar was associated with a 10–25% percent decrease in triglycerides10.
- Exercise. Researchers found that regular aerobic activity, about 150 to 300 minutes per week, was associated with a significant reduction in triglycerides10.
Choose OmegaVia for triglyceride support in a healthy range
If you're researching high-concentration omega-3 supplements, learn more about OmegaVia's Ultra Concentrated Omega-3. Each softgel contains 1,135 mg of omega-3s. When paired with diet and exercise, these fish oil supplements can support joint and heart health within a healthy range, as well as cognitive function and steady mood.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Clinical research suggests the omega-3 dosage needed to help maintain healthy triglycerides is 2000–3000 mg per day when used as part of healthy diet and exercise.
FAQ
What are triglycerides?
Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood. Your body uses them for energy, storing calories you don't use that instance—especially from sugar and refined carbs, as triglycerides in fat cells. A small amount circulating in the blood is normal; triglycerides become a cardiovascular concern when levels climb too high.
What does high triglycerides mean?
Having high triglycerides, or hypertriglyceridemia, means your fasting blood triglyceride level is 150 mg/dL or above. Per the Cleveland Clinic, 150–199 mg/dL is borderline high, 200–499 mg/dL is high, and 500 mg/dL or above is very high1. Elevated triglycerides are associated with increased cardiovascular risk in research from the AHA2.
What causes high triglycerides?
Elevated triglycerides can stem from several sources, including diet (excess sugar, refined carbs, saturated fat, alcohol), an inactive lifestyle, obesity, and certain health conditions. Medications and genetic lipid disorders can also raise triglycerides. More than one factor is common.
What level of triglycerides is dangerous?
Fasting triglycerides of 500 mg/dL or higher are classified as "very high" and are associated with increased risk of acute pancreatitis, in addition to cardiovascular risk, according to the Cleveland Clinic1. Even moderately elevated levels are worth discussing with a healthcare provider, since research has linked triglycerides, even outside the "very high" range, to cardiovascular risk over time.
Endnotes
- Miller, M. (24 May 2011). Triglycerides and cardiovascular disease: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. Retrieved August 27, 2026 from https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0b013e3182160726
- Cleveland Clinic. (29 July 2022). Hypertriglyceridemia: Causes, Risk Factors & Treatment. ClevelandClinic.org. Retrieved August 27, 2026, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23942-hypertriglyceridemia
- Erbay, M. (September 2023). Fish Oil Derivatives in Hypertriglyceridemia: Mechanism and Cardiovascular Prevention: What Do Studies Say? Current Problems in Cardiology. Retrieved August 27, 2026 from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0146280623004838
- Skulas-Ray, A. (2019). Omega-3 Fatty Acids for the Management of Hypertriglyceridemia: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association. Circulation. Retrieved August 27, 2026 from https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000709
- Bornfeldt, K. (15 March 2021). Triglyceride lowering by omega-3 fatty acids: a mechanism mediated by N-acyl taurines. Journal of Clinical Investigation. Retrieved August 27, 2026 from https://www.jci.org/articles/view/147558
- Francis, M., Li, C., Sun, Y., Zhou, J., Li, X., Brenna, J.T., and Ye, K. (24 March 2021). Genome-wide association study of fish oil supplementation on lipid traits in 81,246 individuals reveals new gene-diet interaction loci. PLOS Genetics. Retrieved August 27, 2026 from https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1009431
- Cleveland Clinic. (29 July 2022). Omega-3 Fatty Acids. ClevelandClinic.org. Retrieved August 27, 2026 from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/17290-omega-3-fatty-acids
- Lu, J. (10 January 2025). Impact of omega-3 fatty acids on hypertriglyceridemia, lipidomics, and gut microbiome in patients with type 2 diabetes. Med. Retrieved August 27, 2026 from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666634024003064
- Shearer, G. (25 October 2011). Fish oil — how does it reduce plasma triglycerides? Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. Retrieved August 28, 2026 from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3563284/
- Sikand, G. (14 February 2022). Practical Approaches to Dietary Management of Hypertriglyceridemia. National Lipid Association. Retrieved August 28, 2026 from https://www.lipid.org/resource/practical-approaches-to-dietary-management-of-hypertriglyceridemia/
