Omega-3 and contraindications: are there any?

Rather than contraindications, let's talk about (positive) interactions.

In fact, the side effects of Omega-3s have a very low incidence: they affect only a small percentage of people who take them (between 0.1 and 1 percent) and are usually mild digestive complaints.

Yes, we can say it: omega-3 is very well tolerated by our body!

The active ingredients in natural supplements may even work hand in hand with some medications, and enhance their effectiveness or limit their side effects. Although these interactions are usually positive, it is crucial that they are always checked and monitored, which is why we recommend that you start taking them only after consulting with your health care provider, especially if you are taking the medications on this list .

Blood-thinning medications
Do you take medications such as aspirin or warfarin? Then you should know that Omega-3 fatty acids can enhance their effect and increase prothrombin time, a parameter that measures the effectiveness of the clotting process.

Thus, the combination of aspirin and Omega-3 can be useful in treating certain ailments, such as heart disease, but should always be supervised by a physician.

Cyclosporins
Good news: taking omega-3 fatty acids during cyclosporine therapy may reduce some side effects (such as high blood pressure or kidney damage) that might occur in transplant patients.

Etretinate and topical steroids
If you suffer from psoriasis, you should know that combining omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA, with etretinate therapy and topical corticosteroids can help relieve your symptoms. Ask your doctor for advice.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs
Here, too, we have good news for you: according to some nutritional guidelines, the efficacy of statins (a group of drugs used to lower "bad" cholesterol, such as atorvastatin, lovastatin or simvastatin) can be enhanced by increasing the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids introduced into the diet, since doing so reduces the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
You may already know that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (so-called NSAIDs) can cause damage to the mucous membranes of the stomach. Well, research in animals has shown that taking omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of ulcers. So we remain waiting to see if they also have the same "protective" effect in humans.