Fish is a good source of protein without the high saturated fat in fatty meat products. The benefits and risks of eating fish oil still need to be defined by further research. Using fish oil capsules to lower high blood cholesterol levels is not recommended. Background Public attention has recently focused on the value of fish and fish oils in the diet. Some studies have shown that people who regularly eat fish have lower rates of heart disease.
Current studies show that some benefits come from the fat content of fish.
Fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These are a form of polyunsaturated fat that's chemically different from the omega-6 fatty acids found in most vegetable oils. In studies where people who ate more fish oil also ate less saturated fat, their LDL levels went down. But in studies where saturated fat intake remained constant while fish oil increased, LDL levels either didn't change or increased. Taking fish oil capsules doesn't seem to impair glucose tolerance in nondiabetic coronary bypass patients.