Fish oil supplement use in New Zealand: A cross-sectional survey

Objective: The aims of the survey were to determine: (i) the percentage of fish oil supplement users in a sample population; (ii) why people take fish oil supplements; (iii) where fish oil supplements are stored as well as the average daily dosage; (iv) what dietary and lifestyle behaviours are associated with fish oil supplement use. Design: An online cross-sectional survey. Setting: New Zealand. Respondents: A total of 334 New Zealand residents over the age of 18. Results: Fish oil supplements were taken by 21.9% of respondents. Reasons for taking fish oil supplements were 72.6% for 'general well-being', 54.8% to 'improve brain function', 31.5% for 'pain/inflammation', 12.3% to 'lower cholesterol levels' and 11% for 'a dietary insufficiency'. Approximately 26% of fish oil users reported taking a dose of fish oil supplements that would meet the recommended daily intake of 400-600 mg combined docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, and only 6.8% of fish oil users reported storing their fish oil supplements in the refrigerator. After controlling for other characteristics including age, gender, ethnicity and body mass index, fish oil supplementation use was most likely among respondents who already eat oily fish and least likely in respondents who regularly eat nuts and seeds. Conclusions: Fish oil supplements are a commonly used supplement in New Zealand, yet questions remain about the role of these supplements in improving health outcomes. Safety issues related to manufacturing and storage conditions indicate that there is an urgency in answering these questions.