Written from the studies on PubMed, searched on 11 Nov 2026. Every number below comes from a study listed under Sources.
What people read
Posts online say that Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) helps with Crohn's disease.
What has been studied
- 15In people13 randomised trials
- 1In animals
- 0Only in the lab
What the studies found
Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) has been tested in randomised trials in people with Crohn's disease.
We found 41 published papers on Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) and Crohn's disease. They were published between 1989 and 2026.
15 of them are studies in people (13 randomised trials), 10 are reviews, 1 are studies in animals and 0 are studies only in the lab.
The most important ones are listed under Sources.
What this means for you: A study in people is not proof that it helps you. Do not stop or change your medicines because of it. Ask your doctor before you start taking it.
Sources
- Effects of an Omega-3 and Vitamin D Supplement on Fatty Acids and Vitamin D Serum Levels in Double-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trials in Healthy and Crohn's Disease Populations.2020 · Nutrients · Randomised trial
- Omega-3 free fatty acids for the maintenance of remission in Crohn disease: the EPIC Randomized Controlled Trials.2008 · JAMA · Randomised trial
- Impact of enteral supplements enriched with omega-3 fatty acids and/or omega-6 fatty acids, arginine and ribonucleic acid compounds on leptin levels and nutritional status in active Crohn's disease treated with prednisolone.2007 · Digestion · Randomised trial
- Usefulness of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in addition to mesalazine in maintaining remission in pediatric Crohn's disease: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.2005 · World J Gastroenterol · Randomised trial
- Omega-3 fatty acids inhibit an increase of proinflammatory cytokines in patients with active Crohn's disease compared with omega-6 fatty acids.2005 · Aliment Pharmacol Ther · Randomised trial
- Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF binding proteins in active Crohn's disease treated with omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids and corticosteroids.2005 · Scand J Gastroenterol · Randomised trial
- High-dose fish oil and antioxidants in Crohn's disease and the response of bone turnover: a randomised controlled trial.2005 · Br J Nutr · Randomised trial
- Fish oil and antioxidants alter the composition and function of circulating mononuclear cells in Crohn disease.2004 · Am J Clin Nutr · Randomised trial
- Safety of Emulsifying Lipid Formulation Containing Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids for Patients with Crohn's Disease.2016 · Anticancer Res · Study in people
- The effects of an oral supplement enriched with fish oil, prebiotics, and antioxidants on nutrition status in Crohn's disease patients.2011 · Nutr Clin Pract · Study in people
- Omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) for maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease.2014 · Cochrane Database Syst Rev · Review
- Omega-3 fatty acid for the treatment and remission of Crohn's disease.2013 · J Complement Integr Med · Review
- Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory bowel diseases - a systematic review.2012 · Br J Nutr · Review
- Comment On: Maintenance of Remission in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses.2011 · Nutr Clin Pract · Review
- Combining nutrition, food science and engineering in developing solutions to Inflammatory bowel diseases--omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as an example.2010 · Food Funct · Review
- Omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) for maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease.2009 · Cochrane Database Syst Rev · Review
- Dietary fish oil reduces progression of chronic inflammatory lesions in a rat model of granulomatous colitis.1990 · Gut · In animals
- Integrated Metabolomic and Genetic Profiling Implicates Loss of Docosahexaenoic Acid in the Link Between Ultraprocessed Foods and Crohn's Disease.2026 · Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol · Other paper
- Integrated metabolomics and genetic analyses reveal loss of protective docosahexaenoic acid as a key driver linking ultra-processed food to Crohn's disease risk.2026 · medRxiv · Other paper
- The Pharmacokinetic Profile of a New Gastroresistant Capsule Preparation of Eicosapentaenoic Acid as the Free Fatty Acid.2015 · Biomed Res Int · Other paper
- Commentary: The association between high dietary intake of docosahexaenoic acid and reduced risk of Crohn's disease--authors' reply.2014 · Aliment Pharmacol Ther · Other paper