Fish Oil and Magnesium

by Vorst Canada September 12, 2022

Disclaimer: This content has been produced purely for informational and educational purposes only and is never intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical guidelines including diagnosis, advice, and treatment.

Both fish oil and magnesium play an important role in many different vital bodily functions and are considered crucial for the development and maintenance of human health. While people take fish oil supplements for lowering triglycerides, reducing blood pressure, and combating inflammation, magnesium is used to treat magnesium deficiency that affects several functional systems including calcium absorption and blood circulation. If taken together, their effects might overlap sometimes, and “too much of good things” may eventually result in “not so good” for human health.

In this article, we’ll be discussing the effects of fish oil and magnesium on the human body along with their possible interactions. But before we get into why we should beware of combining fish oil and magnesium supplements, it’s worth knowing the basics of the two a little bit more. So, let’s dig deeper.

What is fish oil?
What is magnesium?
Fish oil and magnesium: functions and benefits
Special concerns about fish oil and magnesium interactions
Final words

What is fish oil?

Fish oil is simply the oil or fat content that is extracted from the tissues of fatty or oil fishes such as halibut, tuna, salmon, mackerel, herring, and others. It can also be made from the livers of certain types of fishes as well, as cod liver oil is made from the livers of cod.

Fish oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, which have been found associated with numerous health benefits along with protection against a range of diseases. Fish oil also contains other beneficial nutrients such as vitamins A and D.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people should eat at least 1-2 portions of fish every week. However, people can also take fish oil supplements to get enough omega 3s, particularly those who do not get these nutrients through diets.

What is magnesium?

Magnesium is a chemical element or mineral that is critical for the proper functioning of the human body as well as brain. This mineral is found as the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body and is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions that regulate hundreds of bodily processes. In fact, the human body cannot work properly without enough magnesium.

Food sources of magnesium include green leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts, and legumes. Fish and meat also contain magnesium but in lesser amounts compared to plant sources.

Magnesium is also available as supplements with its various binding options such as magnesium bisglycinate, magnesium citrate, and magnesium oxide and each has separate uses and benefits in the body.

Fish oil and magnesium: functions and benefits

Fish oil and its omega-3 fatty acid content have a great positive impact on the human body, particularly on heart and brain health. There are two major types of omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and most of the fish oil health benefits seem to come from these fatty acids.

Triglycerides are unhealthy fat substances in the blood that clog the walls of blood vessels over time and form hard plaques that obstruct regular blood flow in the blood vessels, resulting in high blood pressure levels that increase heart disease risks. Fish oil can help reduce triglyceride levels and prevent plaque formation, allowing more blood to flow and easing the work of the heart. This lowers blood pressure as well as the risk of developing various cardiovascular conditions.

Fish oil can also hugely help with managing and preventing inflammation and its associated symptoms such as pain and swelling of joints. It is also helpful in stabilizing mental states and moods in people suffering from various types of psychological issues such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, irritability, and depression.

Magnesium, on the other hand, plays an important role in a whole variety of vital metabolic processes and bodily functions, ranging from assisting in the absorption of other minerals such as calcium to regulating blood pressure to producing energy.

A healthy level of calcium is important in order to keep the heartbeat in a normal range. Excess calcium affects heart rhythm and may lead to too high blood pressure that increases the risk of serious heart and blood vessel conditions. Magnesium can help limit calcium absorption and keep it at a healthy level and also essentially helps relax blood vessels that improve circulation and reduce blood pressure.

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Special concerns about fish oil and magnesium interactions

Since fish oil is effective to lower triglycerides and remove plaque buildup in and on the blood vessel walls, it can improve blood flow and decrease blood pressure as well. When magnesium takes effect, the blood vessels open up and relax, which also potentially decreases blood pressure.

Therefore, combining fish oil and magnesium supplements may reduce the blood pressure too much, which is not so good for human health and sometimes may even increase the risk of heart failure. However, the impact of magnesium on blood pressure is very small according to the National Institutes of Health.

Besides, too reduced blood pressure may cause tiredness, fainting, lightheadedness, dizziness, and even mental confusion if the brain does not get enough blood supply. Therefore, it’s strongly recommended to consult with a certified naturopath or nutritionist when you consider taking fish oil and magnesium together to avoid the side effects of their possible interactions. Consider taking them together only if your doctor permits and strictly follow the doses as prescribed.

Final words

Both fish oil and magnesium work wonders for human health. They support many different bodily functions, particularly those related to heart and brain health. Some of their effects are quite similar, such as reducing blood pressure, and “too much of good things” may produce some side effects that are unpleasant and unwanted. Therefore, consider consulting with a qualified natural medicine professional before taking them together to avoid possible interactions and get the best of them.

Here you can see Vorst’s pure and natural Fish Oil 1000 mg Softgels

Here you can see Vorst’s pure and natural Magnesium Bisglycinate 200 mg Vegan Capsules

Important resources:

Fish Oil and Magnesium

Table of contents

What is fish oil?

What is magnesium?

Fish oil and magnesium: functions and benefits

Special concerns about fish oil and magnesium interactions

Final words