Midline

Supplement timing and quality

Best Time to Take Fish Oil: With a Meal

By Midline. First published . Last reviewed .

The question

What's the best time to take fish oil or omega-3?

Short answer

With a meal, at whatever time of day you'll remember. Follow the label, and check with your doctor first if you take a blood thinner.

Does the time of day matter for fish oil?

Take fish oil with a meal.

So pick the time you'll actually stick to, and attach it to a meal.

What did the experts say?

Thomas DeLauer, on YouTube, says to take fish oil, or eat salmon or sardines, alongside a carb meal like rice. He says this slightly slows the blood sugar rise from the rice.

We go with a meal you already eat.

On a March 2026 Diary of a CEO episode, Rhonda Patrick said fish oil oxidizes easily, so she keeps hers frozen and moves it to the fridge when she starts a bottle. She also says to buy a quality brand that uses third-party testing. Follow the storage line on your label. Here's what a third-party seal does and doesn't tell you.

In an October 2026 video, Thomas DeLauer said he'd changed his mind about very high doses: you can take too much fish oil. He now looks for the triglyceride (TG) form rather than ethyl ester. Follow the label, and don't double up.

Is fish oil worth it if you eat oily fish?

If you eat oily fish regularly, it's worth asking your doctor whether a supplement adds anything for you.

Can you take it with your other supplements?

Often, yes, and it can save you a reminder. Take vitamin D with a meal that has some fat, so the two can share a slot (Thomas DeLauer, on YouTube, says to take D3 and K2 together with some fat). Anything that needs space from medicines, like psyllium, goes on its own. Our supplement schedule lays out the slots.

Who should check with a doctor first?

Anyone on a blood thinner: check with your doctor before taking fish oil. If you take any medication, check with your pharmacist or doctor about supplements.

Check first: follow the label. If you take any medicine, especially a blood thinner, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a kidney or liver condition, check with your pharmacist or doctor before you start.

Fish oil is one piece of a bigger question: when to take everything else. Our simple supplement schedule puts it all on a few meal-based slots.

Try this today

Take your fish oil with a meal you already eat each day. Keep the bottle where you eat that meal so you see it.

Frequently asked questions

Should I take fish oil in the morning or at night?

Pick the time you'll stick to, and take it with a meal.

Can I take fish oil on an empty stomach?

Take fish oil with a meal.

Does fish oil interact with blood thinners?

It can. Check with your doctor before fish oil if you take a blood thinner.

Is more fish oil better?

Not always. More fish oil is not always better, so follow the label rather than doubling up.

Sources

  1. Thomas DeLauer on YouTube (fish oil with a carb meal). Thomas DeLauer, YouTubeTake fish oil, or eat salmon or sardines, alongside a carb meal like rice. He says this slightly slows the blood sugar rise from the rice.
  2. Rhonda Patrick on The Diary Of A CEO. Rhonda Patrick, The Diary Of A CEOFish oil oxidizes easily, so she keeps hers frozen and moves it to the fridge when she starts a bottle. She says to buy a quality brand that uses third-party testing.
  3. Thomas DeLauer on YouTube (changed view on high doses). Thomas DeLauer, YouTubeHe changed his mind on very high doses: you can take too much fish oil. He now looks for the triglyceride (TG) form rather than ethyl ester.
  4. Thomas DeLauer on YouTube (vitamin D with fat). Thomas DeLauer, YouTubeTake D3 and K2 together, in the morning, with some fat, such as with eggs or coffee with fat. He gives a different time of day in another video, so we give none.

All sources across the site are listed on the sources page.

Watch the episode

Last reviewed . Educational only, not medical advice. Check with your pharmacist if you take medication.

We draft articles with AI help. A reviewer checks every health statement against the expert's own words in the video before it goes up.

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