Omega-3 Fish Oil: Intake, Safety & Interactions
App Library Tools Pricing Download
[Supplement · Compound guide]

Omega-3 Fish Oil (EPA and DHA): half-life, strengths and approval status

Intake values · Approval status · Half-life notes

What is fish oil?

Fish oil is a supplement made from oily fish that supplies the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Most research on it has looked at heart health and triglycerides. The body makes only small amounts of EPA and DHA from the plant omega-3 ALA.

Also known as: omega-3, EPA, DHA.

Reference intakes

ODS lists Adequate Intakes for total omega-3s of 1.6 g a day for men and 1.1 g for women (as ALA), with no separate intake value for EPA and DHA and no upper limit. ODS notes FDA has concluded that supplements providing no more than 5 g a day of EPA and DHA are safe when used as recommended, and that supplement labels should not recommend more than 2 g a day.

Approval status and how it is used

It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling. High-dose prescription omega-3 drugs also exist, such as Vascepa (icosapent ethyl, an EPA-only form). ODS notes the American Heart Association concludes that 4 g a day of prescription omega-3s lowers triglycerides.

A 2020 Cochrane review cited by ODS found omega-3 supplements lowered triglycerides by about 15% and slightly reduced heart deaths and coronary events, but did not change overall deaths, strokes or arrhythmia. Two large trials found 4 g a day for several years slightly raised the risk of atrial fibrillation in people with or at high risk of heart disease. Fish oil may prolong clotting with warfarin, although most research found 3 to 6 g a day did not significantly change anticoagulation; the prescription labels say INR should be checked periodically. Common side effects are mild: unpleasant taste, bad breath, heartburn, nausea and diarrhea.

Fish oil half-life and time to peak

  • Half-lifeNot listed
  • Time to peak (Tmax)Not listed

We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for EPA and DHA that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one. They build up in cell membranes over weeks: ODS notes the omega-3 index, measured in red blood cells, reflects intake over about the previous 120 days.

How to track fish oil in Dose Track

  1. Add fish oil as a custom compound. Start typing its name and Dose Track fills in the details from its research library for you to check, and it sits next to everything else you take.
  2. Log each dose when you take it so your history shows exactly what you took and when.
  3. Set reminders on your own schedule, whether that is daily, weekly or every few days.
  4. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

How Dose Track handles peptides · Reconstitution calculator · Half-life calculator

Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)cholecalciferol · half-life about 15 days Creatine Monohydratecreatine monohydrate Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)coenzyme Q10, ubiquinone · half-life about 33 hours Krill OilAntarctic krill oil, Euphausia superba

Frequently asked questions

What is the half-life of fish oil?+
We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for EPA and DHA that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one. They build up in cell membranes over weeks: ODS notes the omega-3 index, measured in red blood cells, reflects intake over about the previous 120 days.
Does fish oil thin the blood?+
It can have antiplatelet effects at high doses. ODS says fish oil might prolong clotting with warfarin, but most research found 3 to 6 g a day did not significantly change anticoagulation. If you take a blood thinner, ask your prescriber; the prescription omega-3 labels say INR should be checked periodically.
How much fish oil is too much?+
There is no official upper limit. ODS notes FDA has concluded that up to 5 g a day of EPA and DHA from supplements is safe when used as recommended, and that 4 g a day for several years slightly raised atrial fibrillation risk in two large trials of people with or at high risk of heart disease.
Can I track fish oil in Dose Track?+
Yes. Fish oil is in Dose Track's research library, so when you add it as a custom compound its details are filled in for you to check. You can then log each dose next to your other compounds, set reminders on your own schedule, and see your history next to your lab results. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

Sources

  1. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids fact sheet for health professionals (updated August 22, 2025).
  2. FDA. Questions and answers on dietary supplements.

All compound guides · Reconstitution calculator · Supported medications