“One size doesn’t fit all”: Research reveals wide variation in EPA omega-3’s health benefits

New research suggests that the benefits of supplementing with omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) vary significantly across individuals. 

Previous research has focused primarily on EPA’s prevention of cardiovascular disease in individuals with raised blood lipid levels or preexisting heart diseases. However, the study highlights that data on EPA’s effects on healthy people are scarce.

The authors also flag gaps in research on EPA accumulation in lipoproteins that carry lipids, or fatty molecules, circulated in the blood.

The Finland-based scientists investigated the fish oil derivative benefits on healthy people’s blood lipid levels and metabolism.

“The findings highlight the importance of metabolism in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. EPA’s effects varied more between individuals than we expected,” says doctoral researcher Lauri Äikäs.

“We also demonstrated that these effects dissipate quickly, which is good to know in case EPA were to have adverse effects.”

Uncovering “lipid fingerprints”

In the study, 38 subjects consumed exceptionally high doses of EPA supplements. The researchers collected samples before, during, and after the supplementation.

The findings demonstrate significant variation in EPA’s effects among the individuals.

“The samples taken during supplementation clearly show the effect of EPA on all participants,” says Professor Katariina Öörni, a lead author of the study from the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, and the Wihuri Research Institute, Finland.

“Having said that, all samples were different among the group. In other words, each individual has a unique lipoprotein lipidome in their circulation, a ‘lipid fingerprint,’ if you will, that persisted despite EPA supplementation.”

Effective absorption but short-lasting benefit

The researchers found that EPA supplements are effectively absorbed, multiplying their concentration in the blood. However, the levels fall rapidly after supplementation ends. Participants with low baseline EPA levels exhibited the strongest responses to the supplementation.

Additionally, EPA improves the blood lipid profile while reducing lipoprotein attachment to components of the arterial walls. This reduction is essential because lipoprotein accumulation can lead to atherosclerosis.

Noting the short study duration, the researchers concede that the long-term effects of EPA supplementation are still unknown.

They plan to conduct cellular tests to determine how EPA supplementation affects inflammatory cell functions, particularly looking at how the amount of lipid mediators that suppress inflammation.

“It’s interesting to see how, for instance, dietary changes affect lipoprotein quality, or the individual lipid fingerprint,” Öörni concludes.

Previous research has supported that EPA may be a natural remedy for chronic pain.

Last year, the total global volume of EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 ingredients grew by 2.5% from 2023, according to estimates from a global supply chain review. At 131,183 metric tons, the overall value of these ingredients increased by 10.2% to US$2,379.7 million.