Why Supplement With Fish Oil?

In 1980 a study on Greenland Eskimos was published touting the universal benefits of fish oil supplementation. This population was found to have an unusually low risk for coronary heart disease, which the study attributed to their diet high in fatty fish. Because of this study, fish oil became commonly known as having cardiovascular-protecting benefits.
Following further clinical research, fish oil was shown to reduce the chance of stroke, aid in clinical depression, support age-related macular degeneration, and benefit patients with chronic high cholesterol. Today, more and more clinical studies being published encourage us to supplement with fish oil high in Omega-3’s, DHA, and EPA. Fish oil benefits include:

• Protection to the cardiovascular system
• May increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels while lowering overall triglyceride levels
• May lower inflammation
• Supports skin health, including psoriasis
• Increases dietary levels of Omega-3 fatty acids if they are not consumed in the diet

As the popularity of fish oil supplements has soared, so has the push to consume more fatty fish in our daily diets. With all of this new interest in the health benefits of fish, demand has skyrocketed, and the harvesting practices of cold-water fish have really taken a hit. Thus, quality control for fish oil supplementation has become somewhat questionable and could pose potential health risks.

The Quality of Fish Oil Supplements

Good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) are regulatory requirements that provide guidelines for procedures and documentation necessary to assure that the product produced has the identity, strength, composition, quality, and purity it is represented to possess.

To keep up with demand, millions of pounds of fish are harvested and processed every year. Like any other animal-derived food product, the FDA must oversee the manufacturing of the whole fish for the general public’s safety. However, the FDA does not regulate dietary fish oil supplements. This regulation is up to the individual supplemental fish oil manufacturers, which is where some quality concern arises. The International Fish Oil Standards Program (IFOS) was established as a third-party testing agency to test supplemental fish oil for three main criteria:

1. Omega-3 contents
2. Contaminants
3. Stability

This ensures that fish oil sold commercially has a guaranteed level of omega-3 fatty acids, is virtually free of heavy metals, and is manufactured in a stable manner (not denaturing the oil in processing) to ensure freshness. Unfortunately, IFOS testing is not a requirement, and consumers cannot assume that all fish oil manufacturers are adhering to the IFOS testing standards.

Potential Risks of Fish Oil Supplementation

Fish has the potential to be contaminated with high levels of mercury and other environmental chemicals depending on where it was harvested. Mercury is found throughout the planet, from volcanoes to man-made sources like coal-fired electric power plants and chlorine production. From these sources, it is then recycled through rainwater into our oceans and streams and into our soil.

Mercury is generally not well absorbed by the human body and cannot cross into tissues or the placenta. However, mercury is often converted into organic methylmercury via microbial activity while still in this recycling process. This methylmercury is a big concern because it can be easily absorbed into the body, transported into tissues, and affect fetal health and development. Methylmercury absorption happens first in fish, particularly in fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, and then later into our own bodies. If the fish is native to an area high in mercury, any supplement made from that fish will also contain mercury.

There is also the risk of PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxins in fish oil supplements. PCBs were once used in industrial processes as synthetic organochlorine compounds until the late 1970’s when they were prohibited. Dioxins are the by-products of organochlorines from sources like pesticides, paper bleaching, and the production of polyvinyl chloride plastics.
These chemicals persist in the environment for decades and can still be present in some foods. Although dioxin use has been significantly reduced since the late 1980s, it is still in use in some areas of the world. PCBs and dioxins are known carcinogens and can be found in some meat products, vegetables, and dairy products. Fish products were thought to contain lesser amounts of PCBs. However, with recent testing, farmed salmon was shown to contain the same amounts as other contaminated foods.

Finally, there is the issue of freshness. Fish oil, like any oil, can go rancid and has a shelf life. When you’re taking something in a capsule, most companies take extra care that everything looks the same, has no smell, and especially with fish oil, you shouldn’t even be able to tell you’re consuming fish. So how would you know if you’re taking a fresh capsule or a rancid one if it has been treated to have no smell? It’s difficult without puncturing the capsule. Because of this, it is generally better to purchase bottled liquid fish oil, as opposed to in soft gel form. Smell your food and taste your food – it’s important on so many levels.

Smart Fish Oil Supplementation

Fish oil is high in omega-3 and omega-9, essential fatty acids that are essential because the body cannot make these fatty acids internally. Instead, we must consume them through food sources. Fish oil and the essential fatty acids they contain are protective for our cardiovascular health, joint health, brain health, and cholesterol health, among so many other benefits.

Because the fatty acids found in fish are essential to our bodies, as consumers we must remember that high-quality fish must come from high-quality sources. When purchasing fish, aim for a variety week to week. Choose organic fish when possible, and local whenever available. “Wild-caught” fish is also excellent quality, as it has fewer chemicals and antibiotics. If you can, get to know your local fish department worker and ask where the fish came from. Let your grocery store know that you care about the source and quality of their fish.

When purchasing fish oil supplements, look for products that carry the official IFOS seal and state use of a cold-press extraction process either on the label or on the company website. A good fish oil supplement company will harvest sustainably and not use high heat multi-step processing on their products. With fish oil, cheaper is not always better. We recommend speaking with your naturopathic doctor about what kind, quality, and dosage of fish oil would support your health needs best. Schedule an appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors to learn more about the benefits of fish oil for you and your health needs.

Resources

Environmental Working Group Consumer Guide to Seafood