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Fish oil may be hurting your brain, new study finds
April 26, 2026
Medical University of South Carolina

Summary:

Fish oil has long been praised as brain-boosting, but new research suggests the story may be more complicated. Scientists found that in people with repeated mild head injuries, a key omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil—EPA—may actually interfere with the brain’s ability to repair itself. Instead of helping recovery, it appears to weaken blood vessel stability, disrupt healing signals, and even contribute to harmful protein buildup linked to cognitive decline.

A new study from the Medical University of South Carolina is raising fresh concerns about fish oil supplements, especially for people who experience repeated mild traumatic brain injuries. Writing in the journal Cell Reports, researchers report that these widely used supplements, often promoted as protective for the brain, could actually interfere with healing after injury.

The research was led by neuroscientist Onder Albayram, Ph.D., an associate professor at MUSC and a member of the National Trauma Society Committee. His team focused on the biological processes involved in repairing blood vessels in the brain after injury. Rising Popularity of Omega-3 Supplements Interest in omega-3 fatty acids, the key components of fish oil, has been growing rapidly. According to Fortune Business Insights, these supplements are now appearing not only in capsules but also in drinks, dairy alternatives, and snack products. That surge in popularity does not surprise Albayram. "Fish oil supplements are everywhere, and people take them for a range of reasons, often without a clear understanding of their long-term effects," he said. "But in terms of neuroscience, we still don't know whether the brain has resilience or resistance to this supplement. That's why ours is the first such study in the field."

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