Fish oil (medical use)

Fish oil, sold under the brand name Omegaven, is a fatty acid emulsion.[2] It is used for total parenteral nutrition (feeding directly into a venous catheter), e.g. in short bowel syndrome.[2] It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.[2]

It has gained popularity in children in preference to the more commonly used Intralipid after case reports that it reduced the risk of liver damage.[3]

A recent study indicated that the use of Omegaven may be an appropriate intervention strategy for newborns with a very low birth weight, gastrochisis, and jejunal atresia.[4]

It is currently undergoing a clinical trial at National Taiwan University Hospital.[5]

Although the use of Omegaven in children in the United States is experimental, the use of it in adults in Europe is less controversial.[6] In European studies, Omegaven has been associated with a reduction in psoriasis, when contrasted to administration of omega-6 fatty acid Lipoven.[7] Omegaven has also been associated with reduced mortality and antibiotic use during hospital stays.[8]

Omegaven was approved for use in the United States on July 27, 2018,[9] and is available to patients on the US market by prescription effective November 15, 2018.[10]