Longevity & AgingEPA and DHA Cut Heart Disease Risk But High Doses May Trigger Atrial Fibrillation
This 2025 review by Djuricic and Calder synthesizes evidence published from 2020–2025 on how EPA and DHA—the marine omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish and fish oil supplements—protect cardiovascular health. The authors detail multiple biological mechanisms: triglyceride lowering, anti-inflammatory effects via specialized pro-resolving mediators, antithrombotic activity, improved endothelial function, gut microbiome modulation, and autonomic nervous system regulation. Large cohort studies and meta-analyses consistently link higher EPA and DHA intake or blood levels to 18–47% reductions in coronary events. However, high-dose supplementation—particularly of DHA—may paradoxically increase atrial fibrillation risk through PIEZO1 ion channel modulation and enhanced vagal tone, suggesting a U-shaped dose-response relationship.
