Omega-3s and the metabolic benefits that keep showing up

Omega-3 fats are best known for the heart, but their reach into metabolic health is one of the most consistent findings in the literature. A study in Nutrients tested fish oil rich in EPA and DHA in Goto-Kakizaki rats, a lean model of type 2 diabetes, and found that supplementation improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity while lowering triglycerides, total cholesterol, and the inflammatory marker CRP.

It also nudged the animals' immune cells toward a less inflammatory profile. This is an animal study, so I wouldn't read specific human outcomes into it, but it lines up with a large body of human evidence. One of the best established benefits of omega-3 supplementation is on metabolic health, especially the reduction of triglycerides.

The catch is that most people don't get nearly enough omega-3s from their diet, and those who do supplement often choose low-quality, oxidized products that do little good. I've long recommended a high-quality fish oil for anyone not eating at least a couple of servings of cold-water fatty fish each week.

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Omega-3s and the metabolic benefits that keep showing up