Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

The YOU-Fish Study: Fish and Omega 3 Supplementation in Young Adults

The YOU-Fish Study explores whether eating more fish or taking omega-3 supplements can improve heart health in young adults. Heart disease is a major problem, but many cases can be prevented. Omega-3 fats, found in fish, are known to reduce inflammation and may lower the risk of heart problems. Most people don't get enough, so their omega-3 levels are often too low. This study aims to find out if increasing fish intake or using supplements can help young adults reach healthier omega-3 levels, potentially protecting their hearts for the future. Participants will either eat extra fish or take omega-3 capsules for 8 weeks.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Ulster

Enrolment target

Start

01 Dec 2024

Estimated completion

31 Jul 2025

Cardiovascular Prevention

What is this study about?

Heart disease is a very common and serious illness, but good news is that about three-quarters of all cases could be prevented. Scientists have found that having higher levels of a certain type of healthy fat, called omega-3, in your blood is connected to a lower risk of heart problems. This is because omega-3s can help reduce inflammation in your body. We have a way to measure these omega-3 levels, called the omega-3 index. An omega-3 index above 8% is thought to offer the best protection for your heart. However, most people, especially young adults in the UK and Ireland, tend to have much lower levels, often around 4-5%.

Fish is a great natural source of these important omega-3 fats. Current health advice suggests eating two portions of fish per week, but many people don't manage to eat this much. For those who don't eat fish, perhaps because they don't like it or have other reasons, taking an omega-3 supplement could be helpful. These supplements typically provide about 500mg of EPA and DHA (two key omega-3s) daily. The big question is whether following this advice – either by eating more fish or taking supplements – actually helps people reach that ideal omega-3 index of 8%.

This study, called the YOU-Fish Study, wants to find out the answer to that question. We are inviting young adults to participate because getting healthy omega-3 levels early in life could be a really good way to prevent heart disease in the long run. We will be looking at how eating more fish or taking omega-3 supplements affects your omega-3 index and other measures of your heart and blood vessel health over an 8-week period. We believe that either of these approaches will help increase omega-3 levels and improve blood vessel health in young adults.

Key takeaways

Heart disease is largely preventable, and omega-3s may play a role.
Most young adults don't have enough omega-3s for optimal heart health.
This study explores if eating more fish or taking supplements can boost omega-3 levels.
It involves 8 weeks of either eating certain meals or taking daily capsules.
The goal is to understand how these changes can improve heart health indicators.
Participants will be randomly assigned to different groups, including placebo options.

Who may be eligible?

We are looking for healthy young men and women, aged between 18 and 30, who typically don't eat much fish (less than two portions a month) and aren't already taking fish oil or protein supplements. Your Body Mass Index (BMI) should be between 18 and 30.

To join, a blood test will check your current omega-3 levels. You'll only be able to participate if your omega-3 index is below 6%, confirming you're not getting enough omega-3s already. You must also be willing to eat two portions of fish per week if you are put into a fish eating group, and you cannot have any allergies to seafood.

You cannot join this study if you already have high omega-3 levels (above 6%), regularly eat fish, are allergic to seafood, or are currently taking fish oil or protein supplements. We also can't include you if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have existing health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, or if your diet (like being vegan) means you can't eat fish.

Quick self-check

Are you between 18 and 30 years old?
Do you eat less than two portions of fish per month?
Are you generally healthy, without conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure?
Are you not currently taking fish oil or other omega-3 supplements?
Are you not pregnant or breastfeeding?
Do you not have any seafood allergies?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

If you join the study, you'll be randomly placed into one of four groups. This means a computer will decide whether you'll be eating extra fish, taking an omega-3 supplement, both, or neither (you'd receive a 'dummy' pill called a placebo and a fish-free meal).

The study lasts for 8 weeks. If you're in a fish-eating group, you'll come to Ulster University twice a week for lunch. You'll be given two fish meals (around 280g total) each week – for example, salmon with salad or a fish pie – for the entire 8 weeks. If you're in a control group, you'll also come to the university twice a week for a fish-free lunch, such as cottage pie or chicken with salad.

Separately, if you're in a supplement group, you'll take one 1g capsule every day for 8 weeks. This capsule will either contain omega-3 (400mg EPA + 200mg DHA) or a placebo (a 'dummy' capsule with corn oil). These capsules will have a peppermint flavour, and you won't know if you're getting the active omega-3 or the placebo. We'll take a small blood sample at the beginning and end of the study to measure your omega-3 levels and check other markers of your health.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer some potential benefits, such as increasing your body's omega-3 levels, which is widely thought to be good for your heart health. However, there are no guaranteed personal health benefits from taking part. The main benefit is helping us learn more about how fish and supplements can improve health in young adults, which could benefit many people in the future. The risks of participating are generally low; these might include minor discomfort from blood tests or, if you're in a fish group, eating fish you might not be used to. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

NICHE, School of Biomedical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Research, Coleraine Campus, University of Ulster
Coleraine, United Kingdom

Common questions

What are omega-3s and why are they important?

Omega-3s are healthy fats found in foods like fish. They are important because they can help reduce inflammation in your body and are linked to a lower risk of heart disease.

What is the omega-3 index?

The omega-3 index is a simple blood test that tells us how much omega-3 fat is present in your red blood cells. A higher number (above 8%) is generally thought to be better for heart health.

Will I know if I'm getting fish or a supplement?

You'll know if you're in a group that receives fish meals at the university. However, if you're taking capsules, you won't know if they contain active omega-3 or a placebo ('dummy' pill) until after the study is complete. This helps ensure fair results.

How long will I need to participate?

Your involvement in the study will last for 8 weeks in total. This includes regular visits for meals or taking daily capsules, plus initial and final health checks.

What happens if I don't like fish or the capsules?

If you find you don't like the fish provided or have trouble taking the capsules, please inform the study team. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any point.

How to find out more

Emeir McSorley, PhD

Em.mcsorley@ulster.ac.uk +442870123543 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.