Fish Oil Benefits for Men

If the idea of fish oil supplements doesn’t make you want to reach for your mouthwash, taking them may be worth the effort — especially if you’re trying to improve your sexual health. Thanks to nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil benefits for men are impressive.

Some evidence suggests fish oil may improve your sex life, boost testosterone levels, enhance your mood, and even help you live longer.

But despite the many claimed benefits of fish oil, it’s important to separate fact from fiction.

Below, we’ll explain what fish oil is, explore how omega-3 fatty acid supplements might improve your health, and answer your most pressing questions, like What does fish oil do for men, and does fish oil help sexually?

We’ll also cover how to get more fish oil into your diet (like eating real fish!) and other things to keep in mind if your sex life seems like it’s currently sleeping with the fishes.

Fish oil is a dietary supplement taken from the tissues of fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies. It’s a rich source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

There are also plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, like alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which can be found in nuts.

You’ve probably heard about the importance of omega-3s before. Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential because the human body can’t produce them on its own. So you have to get them from external sources like food or supplements.

But does omega-3 help sexually? Keep reading to find out.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been studied for their potential sexual health benefits in recent years.

Research suggests the essential fatty acids in fish oil may improve overall health — including your sex life — by increasing erection quality, hormonal function, and even fertility.

But we should note that the science on these topics is ongoing, and individual results may vary. Omega-3 fatty acids, while beneficial for overall health, aren’t a cure-all for every ailment.

Below, we’ll discuss the potential benefits of fish oil supplements for sexual health, including:

• Improved erection quality

• Boosted testosterone levels

• Improved fertility

• Better mental health

Let’s explore each of these potential benefits in more detail.

1. Improved Erection Quality

Can fish oil give you a better erection? Maybe. Some studies suggest that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may improve blood flow (and vascular function overall) by relaxing smooth muscle cells, which is essential for healthy erectile function.

Improved blood flow can enhance your ability to achieve and maintain an erection. EPA and DHA types of omega-3s may also have a positive impact on blood vessel health while reducing inflammation — which could indirectly support erectile function.

Could fish oil improve erectile dysfunction (ED)? For now, the research is limited and mostly based on animal studies. Until we know more, it’s best to consult a healthcare provider for science-backed, FDA-approved treatments for ED over supplements and vitamins.

2. Boosted Testosterone Levels

There’s a chance fish oil has positive benefits for testosterone production as well. Testosterone is a hormone that plays a crucial role in male sexual health, muscle development, and overall well-being.

Research on the direct effects of fish oil on testosterone levels is limited. But a study on 1,679 young men has shown that omega-3 supplementation might have a positive impact on testicle health, which could include testosterone production.

Though the study showed an association between long-term fish oil supplementation and testes health — including a higher semen volume and relatively more free testosterone — more studies are needed to fully understand the relationship between fish oil and testosterone.

If you have low testosterone (or “low T”), you’ll likely have more success in reducing symptoms with prescribed testosterone treatment — or testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Still, fish oil can be part of a healthy lifestyle revamp.

3. Improved Fertility

What’s good for the fish tank is apparently also good for your little swimmers. Recent research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids are associated with improved fertility in men.

Omega-3 supplements have been found to directly and indirectly enhance sperm quality in infertile men, including:

• Sperm count

• Sperm motility (how well they move)

• Sperm morphology (size, shape, and appearance)

Omega-3s may also aid weight loss. This is helpful, as obesity is a risk factor for male-factor infertility.

4. Better Mental Health

Your erection, sperm count, and testosterone levels aren’t the only things fish oil might have a positive effect on — they could also help your mood.

Omega-3 fatty acids are known to be essential for overall brain health and may have beneficial effects on mental well-being. Some research has hinted that omega-3s might have a potentially positive effect on psychological health, though findings have been mixed and aren’t conclusive.

If there is a benefit for mental health, it could indirectly support sexual health. How so? Anxiety and depression are often linked to issues like reduced libido or sexual dysfunction.

Beyond fish oil benefits for men in the bedroom, the omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish may improve other aspects of your overall health.

Omega-3 benefits for men include:

• Heart health. Studies show that people who eat fatty fish a few times a week have roughly half the risk of death from coronary heart disease and nearly one-third the risk of death from a heart attack compared to those who don’t eat fish.

• Healthy cholesterol and blood pressure. Along with lowering your risk of heart disease and cardiovascular disease, eating fish might lower your triglyceride levels (bad cholesterol) and blood pressure.

• Enhanced brain function and development. Omega-3s have been shown to enhance cognitive function, learning, memory, and blood flow in the brain. They may also help protect against cognitive decline.

• Improved joint health. Taking omega-3s in addition to traditional treatments might help relieve swollen and tender joints associated with health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis by calming the body’s inflammatory response.

• Eye health. Fatty fish rich in omega-3s may have a positive impact on overall eye health. But large reviews of available research didn’t find strong evidence that omega-3 supplements slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease linked to an increased risk of vision loss. Unfortunately, the previous claim that fish oil improves dry eye has been debunked.

In short, fish oil intake has the potential to do a lot for your overall health, but it’s not limited to capsules — or seafood, for that matter. There are plenty of ways to increase your intake of omega-3s through the other foods you eat.

You can get a healthy amount of omega-3s from:

• Salmon

• Mackerel 

• Tuna

• Herring

• Sardines

There are also plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, like alpha-linolenic acid, which can be found in:

• Flaxseed

• Chia seeds

• Walnuts

• Plant oils like flaxseed oil, canola oil, and soybean oil

By obtaining omega-3s from both plant and animal food sources, you can ensure you’re getting a wide range of omega-3s — not just DHA and EPA but also AHA.

While it’s possible to get enough omega-3 fatty acids through dietary sources like fish, some folks may opt for fish oil supplements for several reasons. 

For instance, they might have limited access to fresh fish, concerns about environmental contaminants in fish, vegetarian or vegan dietary preferences, or prefer the convenience and no-guess-work servings offered by supplements.

But remember, fish oil supplements should be taken according to recommended dosages and guidelines. Consulting a healthcare professional is always wise, particularly for those with specific health concerns or taking other medications.

Currently, there’s no officially established daily recommendation for EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids from fish. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the recommended intake for alpha-linolenic acid is 1.6 grams per day for men and 1.1 grams per day for women.

The American Heart Association suggests including two servings of fish per week — each serving around three to four ounces — as part of a diet that supports heart health. For example, four to five ounces of Atlantic salmon can deliver roughly three grams of omega-3 fatty acids.

For the record, most people in the U.S. get enough omega-3s from their daily dietary consumption — even if they rarely or never eat actual fish. But if you like seafood, you might aim to eat fish twice a week to get the nutrients your body needs.

We’ve talked about the good stuff, but does fish oil have any side effects?

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), side effects of omega-3s are typically mild. They can include things like:

• Bad breath

• Unpleasant taste

• Foul-smelling sweat

• Headache

• Heartburn

• Nausea

• Upset stomach

There have also been reports linking omega-3s with a higher risk of prostate cancer. However, this is a controversial topic, as men who frequently eat seafood have lower prostate cancer death rates. More research is needed to fully understand this connection.

Fish oil is often used interchangeably with cod liver oil — understandably so. Cod is a type of fish. But while cod liver oil is extracted from internal organs, fish oil is extracted from fish flesh.

Both fish oil and cod liver oil can increase your intake of omega-3s, but cod liver oil is also rich in vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin E.

Some reported benefits of cod liver oil include reduced inflammation, lower cholesterol, and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Its rich vitamin D content also makes cod liver oil a good choice for supporting bone health.

If you’re looking to get your sexual health back on track, adding omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil or other sources to a healthy eating plan may be worthwhile.

Although the studies are somewhat new, there’s promising evidence of the general health benefits of fish oil — many of which can also (theoretically) improve sexual health.

Here’s what to remember about fish oil benefits for men:

• While fish oil may have potential benefits, it’s not a cure-all solution. Results can vary among people who take supplements, and it’s still important to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a nutritious diet.

• Fish oil might be linked to sexual benefits. Some studies have suggested a potential link between fish oil and benefits like improved erections, higher testosterone levels, increased fertility, and enhanced mental well-being. Though these connections are promising, current research hasn’t confirmed any direct effects, and more studies are needed to fully understand the relationship.

• There are non-sexual benefits of fish oil too. Research suggests fish oil may improve heart health, eye health, joint health, and cognitive function. Cod liver oil may have added benefits as a rich source of vitamins.

All that said, fish oil shouldn’t be considered a first-line treatment for erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, or other ailments.

Other therapies are more effective and reliable. This includes ED medications like:

• Tadalafil (Cialis^®)

• Sildenafil (Viagra^®)

• Vardenafil (Levitra^®)

• Avanafil (Stendra^®)

If you’re looking for something as discreet as fish oil supplements (but with a much better taste), consider chewable ED hard mints. These compounded medications contain both Sildenafil and Tadalafil at various dosages.

If you’re tired of mackerel and ready to upgrade your sex life, schedule an online consultation to explore your options.