Should men take fish oils?

Hormonal imbalances in men can cause problems that range from infertility to low libido to weight gain or mood changes. So, can fish oils help?

Fish oils provide omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA. Here are some ways they interact with men’s health and hormones:

🐠 Fish oils support testicular health (including sperm count and free testosterone levels) in young healthy men.

🐠 Fish oils increase testosterone levels and improve insulin resistance in overweight and obese men.

🐠 Fish oils help to lower triglyceride levels, which are commonly elevated in metabolic syndrome and pre-diabetes.

We always take into consideration individual differences when recommending supplements to our patients. We’re here to help you make sense of your natural healthcare options—including the wild world of supplements.

References

Abbott K, Burrows TL, Acharya S, Thota RN, Garg ML. Dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid rich fish oil increases circulating levels of testosterone in overweight and obese men. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2020;163:102204. [link]

Jensen TK, Priskorn L, Holmboe SA, et al. Associations of Fish Oil Supplement Use With Testicular Function in Young Men. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(1):e1919462. [link]