It’s a common practice to advise patients to stop taking fish oil supplements before surgery due to concerns about bleeding risks. Despite numerous studies suggesting otherwise, this recommendation persists. The American Heart Association has now provided a comprehensive resolution to this issue with their latest systematic review and meta-analysis on the bleeding risk associated with Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). This definitive review includes data from 11 randomized clinical trials encompassing 120,643 patients, offering clarity on this longstanding debate.

Key Findings:

• No Increased Overall Bleeding Risk: The review found no significant increase in the risk of overall bleeding events among Omega-3 PUFA users compared to control groups.
• Intracranial and Hemorrhagic Stroke Risks: The rates of hemorrhagic stroke and intracranial bleeding were comparable between Omega-3 PUFA users and control groups.
• High-Dose EPA Risk: High-dose EPA, specifically in the form of icosapent ethyl, was associated with a 0.6% absolute increase in bleeding risk. However, this type of fish oil is only available via prescription. The typical dosage of Pharma-EPA-only fish oil at 4 grams per day is not commonly used by the general public. Moreover, factors like smoking, diabetes, female gender, or age present a much higher bleeding risk.

With these findings, the concerns about Omega-3s and bleeding risk can now be effectively addressed.

For more details, read the full paper here: American Heart Association Journal