Fish Oil

[Sixguns]

Being a person who doesnt eat fish. My wifes hates the stuff so she never cookes it. Should I start taking some fish oil for the omega-3? Or is really not that big of a deal.

 

[DeckardBlade]

Not aware of the downsides of taking it and it's rather affordable compared to many other supplements. I don't eat much fish myself so take it for that reason.

 

[highland145]

What's your HDL? Helps raise it and it acts as an anti informatory.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

What's your HDL? Helps raise it and it acts as an anti informatory.

It actually affects your cholesterol in every way pretty much - in a good way. It increases HDL, decreases LDL, decreases triglycerides, decreases overall cholesterol. It decreases inflammation and promotes nerve health, brain health, recovery. It reduces risk of heart disease, diabetes, even obesity due to the relationship of obesity and inflammation.

 

[Sixguns]

It actually affects your cholesterol in every way pretty much - in a good way. It increases HDL, decreases LDL, decreases triglycerides, decreases overall cholesterol. It decreases inflammation and promotes nerve health, brain health, recovery. It reduces risk of heart disease, diabetes, even obesity due to the relationship of obesity and inflammation.

So I should than.

Any fan favorites or just go a grab a bottle?

 

[Malfeas]

Get enteric coated, to avoid fish burps. I take two to four capsules of this per day

http://reviews.costco.com/2070/1160...oil-400-mg-980-mg-omega-3-reviews/reviews.htm

You can get the cheaper brands with lower doses, just take more capsules to compensate.

 

[elitejp]

buy whatever has been stored in a dark bottle and kept refrigerated...best bang for buck. Fish oil is just pure awesome.

 

[TKE899]

So I should than.

Any fan favorites or just go a grab a bottle?

I use Barleans. Decently priced and no fish burps which in my opinion is worth a couple extra bucks a bottle as I am not a fish person.

http://www.amazon.com/Barleans-Fish-.../dp/B003USIGJQ

 

[Ksyder]

I take the Kirkland brand non enteric coated and never had a problem with burps, I think it doesn't sit on the shelf for as long as it might in other places hence fresher. Super cheap at like 400 caps for 9 bucks. I also keep it in the fridge. I think the burps are a sign of rancidity.

OTOH, I have some Now brand cod liver oil tablets and those give me the fish burps.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I take the Kirkland brand non enteric coated and never had a problem with burps, I think it doesn't sit on the shelf for as long as it might in other places hence fresher. Super cheap at like 400 caps for 9 bucks. I also keep it in the fridge. I think the burps are a sign of rancidity.

OTOH, I have some Now brand cod liver oil tablets and those give me the fish burps.

Burps are not a sign of rancidity. It's just a sign of digestion earlier within the gastrointestinal tract.

 

[Ksyder]

Burps are not a sign of rancidity. It's just a sign of digestion earlier within the gastrointestinal tract.

What I was referring to is the nasty fish taste, which is most likely from consuming rancid fish oils. Not saying that burping itself is caused by rancid fish oils but I guess it how it reads.

 

[darkxshade]

I take the NOW Ultra Omega 3's. It's 180 capsules/bottle and you can find it often for roughly $17/bottle. I usually buy half a dozen bottles at a time to take advantage of free shipping. Each 1000mg capsule contains 500mg epa & 250mg dha. I think it's one of the best deals out there and you don't have to choke down over half a dozen pills just to get your RDA. They're also enteric coated and I rarely get fish burps out of them(like once/bottle if even that).

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

It actually affects your cholesterol in every way pretty much - in a good way. It increases HDL, decreases LDL, decreases triglycerides, decreases overall cholesterol. It decreases inflammation and promotes nerve health, brain health, recovery. It reduces risk of heart disease, diabetes, even obesity due to the relationship of obesity and inflammation.

The evidence is rather mixed, actually. I don't know about basic science research, but in terms of actual clinical outcome results are conflicting. Overall, for both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, there appears to be no benefit (or rather, a non-significant benefit) to taking omega-3. It may be that future, larger, more rigorous studies will allow subsequent systematic reviews to show an overall benefit; but then again, it may not.* The jury's still out.** However, given the good side-effect profile and tolerance, many studies advocate against not taking omega-3 supplements, under the provision that even if it does no good, at least it does no harm. I respectfully disagree; it costs money, and because of its possible absence of effect, it may cause people to indulge in more risky behavior; similar to how application of sunscreen, no matter how poorly, causes people to engage in longer and more dangerous periods of sun exposure in the mistaken belief that they are protected somehow.

If you feel an overwhelming need to do something about reducing cardiovascular risk, quitting smoking, eating a healthier diet, and exercising more are all preferable; heck, even taking a statin may be better for the same indication; at least it is shown to have significant effect, even in primary care, and it may even be cheaper.

*If there is a benefit, it is miniscule. Regardless of how omega-3 appears to influence cellular function and inflammation, in clinical practice effect, when it is there, is rarely more than a few percentage points better than placebo (if you call olive oil a placebo). Compare this to the effect of statins, which show a 20-50% improvement in lipid profile and morbidity/mortality, depending on the dose and type of statin used.

**Note that there is an element of bias to this view; if future studies show a statistically significant effect, then the case is settled, according to all observers. However, if future studies fail to show a statistically significant effect, then there will be perpetual calls for more research in the hopes of elucidating a previously-hidden positive effect.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

It seems we may have to agree to disagree. I've had to read quite a few papers on n-3 polyunsaturated fats and there relationship to cardiovascular health, cognition, and cholesterol levels as part of my undergraduate degree. I don't have them on hand, but there are solid studies showing that fish oil supplementation can affect them positively. On topics like colorectal cancer, recovery from injuries, etc, there isn't great evidence. It's not a panacea; from what I've read though, there is some good evidence to be supplementing (or eating more wild-caught fish).

If I have some time (and can get privileges to them), I may put together a list of good studies (i.e. systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses) and post the sources here.

 

[HNNstyle]

Does she hate the stuff because it taste bad or does she hate it because it produces a smell in the kitchen that's hard to get rid? It only takes 3-5 mins to cook fish over a frying pan so I'm guessing she just hates cooking it since it leaves a smell. I use to hate cooking fish but I found a way to deal with this. Before cooking the fish in oil, dice apples and cook them until it turns brown to get rid of the smell from the oil. Don't eat the apple because it's just pure oil. The second thing to do is leave a bowl of vinegar next to the pan when cooking. You can also leave the bowl over night. The vinegar will get rid of the smell as it evaporates and combines with the organic material in the air. You can also add some lemon to a boiling pot of water. I believe it is the acid from the lemon or vinegar that does the trick in getting rid of the organic smell.

 

[marmasatt]

I've got to tell you, I just started taking these. And while I can't vouch for any type of benefits as I am 3 weeks in. The fish burps are unbearable, lol. There's nothing like having nice taste of fruit in your mouth in the morning and then all of a sudden you get a rancid fish burp to ruin everything. I am extremely tolerant to pill popping/digestion type stuff too. Should I try a different brand? I'm taking 2 1000 mg small football sized tabs btw that have 300 mg alpha omegas.

 

[kranky]

My doctor is a fan of omega-3 as a supplement. I take Nordic Naturals liquid, orange flavored. Very high omega-3 content. It doesn't have the fishy taste at all. I am prone to burping after meals anyway and I do get some fish burps with this. My wife doesn't have any issue with fish burps, though.

I eat dinner, take the fish oil, then follow that with a shot of scotch. The alcohol cuts the oily film left in my mouth from the fish oil.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

It seems we may have to agree to disagree. I've had to read quite a few papers on n-3 polyunsaturated fats and there relationship to cardiovascular health, cognition, and cholesterol levels as part of my undergraduate degree. I don't have them on hand, but there are solid studies showing that fish oil supplementation can affect them positively. On topics like colorectal cancer, recovery from injuries, etc, there isn't great evidence. It's not a panacea; from what I've read though, there is some good evidence to be supplementing (or eating more wild-caught fish).

If I have some time (and can get privileges to them), I may put together a list of good studies (i.e. systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses) and post the sources here.

I found three reviews, and all say pretty much the same thing.

Hooper L, Thompson RL, Harrison RA, Summerbell CD, Moore H, Worthington HV et. al. Omega 3 fatty acids for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004 Oct 18;(4):CD003177. PMID 15495044

Marik PE, Varon J. Omega-3 dietary supplements and the risk of cardiovascular events: a systematic review. Clin Cardiol. 2009 Jul;32(7):365-72. PMID 19609891

Filion KB, El Khoury F, Bielinski M, Schiller I, Dendukuri N, Brophy JM. Omega-3 fatty acids in high-risk cardiovascular patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2010 Jun 3;10:24. PMID 20525225

You'll notice if you go through them that even when the result is statistically signfiicant, the benefit to mortality/morbidity is tiny. In my opinion this can be explained purely through publication and performance bias. Perhaps, as with other dietary nutrients, supplementation when people are deficient has some effect; there is a recommended daily intake for Omega-3, and supplementation for people who don't get enough may provide them with an improvement in morbidity/mortality. But even then, the effect is not very significant, as shown by the reviews I posted.

I haven't researched other aspects of health related to Omega-3 fatty acids, don't really have the time to look through all the research. Sorry.

 

[Johnny Doe]

So I should than.

Any fan favorites or just go a grab a bottle?

Yeah, just don't get the GNC... fish oil is helpful for your health as with any other products generated from fish (hence the Omega's). If you workout, try grape juice (after the workout) as well.