Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) & Coronary artery disease

Written based on 27 research studies on PubMed, searched on 11 Nov 2026.

The claim

Posts online say that omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) helps with coronary artery disease.

Where research stands

We found 262 published papers on omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) and coronary artery disease. They were published between 1984 and 2026. 76 of them are studies in people. 72 of them compared people who got it with a group that did not. 11 were studies in animals, and 1 was only in cells in the lab. 61 papers are reviews that sum up other studies. 3 new studies in people are running or will start soon, say the trial registers. omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) is approved for coronary artery disease in the US.

• 76In people72 with a comparison group
• 11In animals
• 1Only in the lab

What the studies found

We have not summed up these studies in words yet. The most important papers are listed under Sources.

Verdict

Sources

1. Omega-3 fatty acids and oral and systemic inflammation: A secondary analysis of a randomized trial in patients with coronary artery disease.2026 · J Am Dent Assoc · Randomised trial
2. Identification of individuals who benefit from omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to prevent coronary heart disease: a machine-learning analysis of the VITAL.2025 · Eur J Epidemiol · Randomised trial
3. Effects of Pemafibrate and Eicosapentaenoic Acid Ethyl Ester on Endothelial Function in Patients With Hypertriglyceridemia and Coronary Artery Disease: A Study Protocol for a Multicenter, Open-Label Randomised Controlled Trial.2025 · Cureus · Randomised trial
4. The impact of Omega-3 supplementation on arrhythmia reduction in acute coronary syndrome patients: a randomized clinical trial.2025 · J Complement Integr Med · Randomised trial
5. The Effect of Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation on Coronary Artery Calcium Progression in Subjects With Diabetes and Coronary Artery Disease: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial.2024 · Am J Cardiol · Randomised trial
6. Randomized Trial for Evaluation in Secondary Prevention Efficacy of Combination Therapy-Statin and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (RESPECT-EPA).2024 · Circulation · Randomised trial
7. Icosapent ethyl following acute coronary syndrome: the REDUCE-IT trial.2024 · Eur Heart J · Randomised trial
8. Effect of Eicosapentaenoic Acid/Docosahexaenoic Acid on Coronary High-Intensity Plaques Detected Using Noncontrast T1-weighted Imaging: The AQUAMARINE EPA/DHA Randomized Study.2024 · J Atheroscler Thromb · Randomised trial
9. Eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation and coronary artery calcium progression in patients with coronary artery disease: A secondary analysis of a randomized trial.2023 · Atherosclerosis · Study in people
10. Regression of Coronary Fatty Plaque and Risk of Cardiac Events According to Blood Pressure Status: Data From a Randomized Trial of Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.2023 · J Am Heart Assoc · Study in people
11. Effects of purified eicosapentaenoic acid versus mixed eicosapentaenoic/docosahexaenoic acid pharmacotherapies on coronary plaque volume: network meta-analysis of prospective coronary imaging trials.2025 · Acta Cardiol · Review
12. Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Intake on Lipid Metabolism and Plaque Volume in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.2025 · Food Sci Nutr · Review
13. Cardiovascular outcomes and coronary artery disease prevention secondary to icosapent ethyl: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.2024 · Ann Med Surg (Lond) · Review
14. Omega-3 PUFAs' efficacy in the therapy of coronary artery disease combined with anxiety or depression: a meta-analysis.2024 · Front Psychiatry · Review
15. Circulating Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Levels in Coronary Heart Disease: Pooled Analysis of 36 Observational Studies.2024 · Nutrients · Review
16. Effect of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on the prognosis of coronary artery disease: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.2024 · Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis · Review
17. Efficacy of flaxseed oil compared with fish oil supplementation in the treatment of coronary heart disease: a retrospective study.2022 · J Thorac Dis · In animals
18. Early-onset coronary atherosclerosis in patients with low levels of omega-3 fatty acids.2020 · Eur J Clin Nutr · In animals
19. Longitudinal associations between marine omega-3 supplement users and coronary heart disease in a UK population-based cohort.2017 · BMJ Open · In animals
20. Intake of total omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid and risk of coronary heart disease in the Spanish EPIC cohort study.2014 · Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis · In animals
21. Effects of a fish-based diet and administration of pure eicosapentaenoic acid on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with cardiovascular risk factors.2014 · J Cardiol · In animals
22. Omega-3 Status and the Relationship between Plasma Asymmetric Dimethylarginine and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Patients with Suspected Coronary Artery Disease.2012 · Cardiol Res Pract · In animals
23. Omega-3 PUFAs reduce inflammation by targeting NRF2 and NF-κB activity in an ex vivo model of cardiac mature adipocytes and adipose derived stem cells from atherosclerotic patients.2026 · Food Funct · In the lab
24. Serum free eicosapentaenoic acid-to-arachidonic acid ratio and long-term risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease.2026 · Front Cardiovasc Med · Other paper
25. Cost-utility analysis of icosapent ethyl in patients with high triglyceride levels and recent acute coronary syndrome in Catalonia.2025 · J Med Econ · Other paper
26. Eligibility for icosapent ethyl 1-3 months after acute coronary syndrome and the risk for myocardial re-infarction: Data from the CALLINICUS-Hellas Registry.2025 · Int J Cardiol · Other paper
27. Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Serum Fetuin-A Levels in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.2025 · Food Sci Nutr · Other paper