THE MIND - Bulletin on Mind-Body Medicine Research · Mar 13, 2026
Revisiting the Omega-3 Paradox in Cardiovascular Prevention: A Precision Medicine Perspective within the discipline of Mind-Body-Medicine
By Landers G, Görkes A, Vogelsang K et al.
Omega-3 fatty acids are considered cardioprotective, but large population-based studies show a contradictory picture. Omega-3 supplementation benefits those with established heart disease, but in heart-healthy older adults, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke. This article develops a mechanistic hypothesis to resolve this paradox. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) increase the susceptibility of cell membranes to lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. Whether this results in damage or protection depends crucially on age, gender, genetic factors, fatty acid desaturase (FADS1/FADS2), inflammatory status and the integrity of the nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2) system. Omega-3 fatty acids therefore do not have a beneficial or detrimental effect per se, but rather act as context-dependent modulators of a sensitive redox biological balance, with relevant implications for prevention and integrative medicine.