Fish oilShould fish oil be taken with food?
Updated 4 Nov 2026
Short answer
A 1988 study in men supports taking it with a meal that contains fat. Absorption of EPA from natural fish oil rose from 69% with 8 g of fat in the meal to 90% with 44 g.[1]
The effect was larger for ethyl esters, a common concentrated form: absorption rose three-fold, to about 60%.[1] Omega-3 fats in foods and supplements are absorbed with the help of bile salts, like other fats.[2]
Sources (2)
- Absorption of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid from fish oil triacylglycerols or fish oil ethyl esters co-ingested with a high-fat meal. Lawson LD, Hughes BG Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1988. PMID 2847723
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. ods.od.nih.gov
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