Question on Fish Oil

[Carolyns]

I want to add this and need some suggestions on what to buy and where.

Thank you, Carolyn

[Vanessa]

Hi Carolyn,

I recommend Eskimo Oil. It does not leave an aftertaste. I usually get mine from Whole Foods in Houston. I am pretty sure that any health food store will have them. You can also google it and find it on the internet. Good luck.

Vanessa

[heblaj01]

Carolyn
I assume you want fish oil for their omega-3 fatty acids EPA & DHA.
First make sure your care giver has no objection (usually the case).
Second make sure the product you select actually has the amount of EPA & DHA advertized by the supplier & that the fish oil is highly purified to get rid of pollutants (mercury & other metals.....).This web site should give you most of the info you need in that respect:
http://www.consumerlab.com/results/omega3.asp

You will also have to select the respective percentage of EPA & DHA such as 40%/30% or 30/20 .....
There are also pills of 100% EPA or 100% DHA(in the latter case of either marine or vegetal origin).
If the info in the above web site is not sufficient you may look into the individual supplier's sites such as:
http://www.nordicnaturals.com/mathelse.asp
http://consumer.martek.com/products.htm
http://www.omax3.com/aboutus.html

A final note: nearly all omega-3 fish oil products contain Omega-3 triacylglycerols which are absorbed in the guts through the lymphatic system instead of the liver. This may have the advantage of providing a longer lasting & wider distribution in the body.
However a few semi synthetic products such as one called Omacor (90% omega-3 fatty acids) are made up of Omega-3 ethyl esters which
are absorbed through the liver.

[Carolyns]

Thank you both for your replies and suggestions!

Carolyn

[R.B.]

Heblaj01 - Interesting and well researched post - Thank you.

I had not appreciated the differences in absorbtion mechanism even if I had read it somewhere in my wanders. Food for thought. It is so complicated.

Carolyns - you might like to look at the posts on balancing omega three and six using the search button above which is also arguably an important factor too.

The DHA EPA balance is another interesting area on which I have seen limited but divided opinions. The body does convert EPA up to DHA and retroconverts DHA to EPA from what I read. From recollection EPA to DHA is a difficult conversion. EPA and DHA have different roles. It is very complex.

Nature generally seems to do a pretty remarkable job, so if you are on a limited budget getting enough is propably more important than the exact form.

A trial showed womens take up of DHA dropped of at about 2 grams of DHA a day.

Vitacost sell Carlsons and their own brand.

http://www.vitacost.com/productResul...7&Ntt=carlsons

Bottled oil is cheaper and avoids any risk the process of sealing in capsules causes any degredation.

Do check with your advisors as fats are very powerful. Particular care needs taking by those on blood thinners as omega three has a similar effect, and from what I read there are a very limited number of conditions which may also require caution.

RB

[Carolyns]

R.B. - Thank you! Carolyns

[LAURIE]

I like the pills that are entetric(sp?) coated on the outside. I never burp up the fishy aftertaste. They taste like yogurt going down.