Fish Oil supplements health benefit for cardiovascular health

Fish Oil supplement use for blood pressure, vision, and cardiovascular benefit - Health benefit of fish oil supplements

Fish oils are fascinating nutrients. Almost every aspect of our health, physical and mental, is related to the types of fatty acids that make up our cells and tissues. And it appears that most of us are not ingesting the right kind of fatty acids, the ones found in fish and fish oils. Fish oils can improve eyesight. To purchase Fish Oil Fisol. You can also buy Fish-Oil-Wild.

Fish Oil supplement benefits for the body
Fish and fish oils may be beneficial in a variety of medical conditions including vascular health):

Fish oils reduce the risk for heart disease
Fish oils reduce the risk of heart arrhythmias
May reduce symptoms of arthritis and several autoimmune conditions.
Eating fish and perhaps taking fish oil supplements may also help reduce the risk for macular degeneration.
They are found in sperm, and these oils may support healthy sexual organ function.

Fish oils plus exercise could reduce body fat. Click weight loss for ideas on how to lose weight.

You may also consider reading about krill oil.

Anti-inflammatory effect
Intake of EPA and DHA fatty acids can alter the gene expression profiles of PBMCs to a more antiinflammatory and antiatherogenic status.

Fish oils capsules for depression
Though some research has suggested that fish oil may fight depression, the evidence from clinical trials is too mixed to draw any conclusions. In an analysis of 12 recent clinical trials, British researchers found little evidence that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) improved participants' depression. One problem is that the trials included a wide range of patients, according to Dr. Katherine M. Appleton and her colleagues at the University of Bristol. Some studies examined adults with major depression, while others focused on bipolar disorder. Some assessed depression in people with other disorders, such as chronic fatigue syndrome or obsessive-compulsive disorder. In addition, the treatment type and doses varied widely. In some studies, participants took fish oil supplements along with their standard therapy, while other studies used only the supplements. In theory, fish oils could affect depression symptoms through their action in the brain. Several studies have suggested the fatty acids aid in the function of certain chemical messengers in the brain that are linked to depression. In addition, some population studies have found that people who regularly eat fish have a relatively lower risk of depression. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, December 2006.

Fish Oil supplement benefits for the mind
Dr. Malcolm Peet of the Swallownest Court Hospital in Sheffield, England and his colleague found that depressed patients who received a daily dose of 1 gram of an omega-3 fatty acid for 12 weeks experienced a decrease in their symptoms, such as sadness, anxiety and sleeping problems. Fish oils are beneficial for vision.

Fish oil reduce heart rhythm problems
Daily supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid prevents a potentially-deadly decline in heart rate variability associated with exposure to indoor air pollution. Heart rate variability measures the variability in the intervals between heartbeats, with lower variability being associated with higher risks of heart disease and death. A normal heart does not always have the same time intervals between beats, but every so often (in cycles) the interval between cardiac beats changes; i.e. a little shorter, or longer. How frequent these variations occur are a measure of the effect of the nervous regulation of the heart. A sick heart losses this fine tuning.
Comments: There are many causes for heart rhythm abnormalities, and one of them is taking too high doses of certain herbs that have a stimulating effect. I recommend you keep your dosages of supplements to the minimum that works for you, and also to take occasional breaks, for instance one or two days off each week to allow your system to come back to normal from potential overstimulation. See arrhythmia for details.

Dietary fish oil reduces the incidence of triggered arrhythmias in pig ventricular myocytes.
Heart Rhythm. 2007 Nov;4(11):1452-60. Experimental Cardiology Group (ECG), Center for Heart Failure Research, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The purpose of this study was to test whether dietary fish oil in pigs inhibits Ca2+ overload-induced triggered activity. Pigs were fed a diet of fish oil or sunflower oil for 8 weeks. Ventricular myocytes were isolated by enzymatic dissociation and used for patch clamp studies and intracellular Ca2+ recordings. Triggered activity was induced by rapid pacing in the presence of norepinephrine. Dietary fish oil reduced the incidence of triggered action potentials and delayed afterdepolarizations compared to control, concomitant with a reduction in spontaneous calcium release. Dietary fish oil prevented calcium overload and reduced action potential prolongation in response to norepinephrine. Dietary fish oil reduces the incidence of triggered activity and prevents calcium overload and AP prolongation in response to norepinephrine. Fish oil may prevent arrhythmias in patients with heart failure.

Effects of fish-oil supplementation on myocardial fatty acids in humans.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 May;85(5):1222-8. Rheumatology Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.
The study examined the kinetics of incorporation of n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into human myocardial membrane phospholipids during supplementation with fish oil and alpha-linolenic acid-rich flaxseed oil. Patients with low self-reported fish intake (<1 fish meal/wk and no oil supplements) accepted for elective cardiac surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass were randomly allocated to 1 of 6 groups: no supplement; fish oil (6 g EPA and DHA per day) for either 7, 14, or 21 d before surgery; flaxseed oil; or olive oil (both 10 mL/d for 21 d before surgery). Right atrial appendage tissue removed during surgery and blood collected at enrollment and before surgery were analyzed for phospholipid fatty acids. Surgery rescheduling resulted in a range of treatment times from 7 to 118 d. In the fish-oil-treated subjects, accumulation of EPA and DHA in the right atrium was curvilinear with time and reached a maximum at approximately 30 d of treatment and displaced mainly arachidonic acid. Flaxseed oil supplementation yielded a small increase in atrial EPA but not DHA, whereas olive oil did not significantly change atrial n-3 fatty acids. The results of the present study show that dietary n-3 fatty acids from fish oils are rapidly incorporated into human myocardial phospholipids at the expense of arachidonic acid during high-dose fish-oil supplementation.

Fish oil curtails the human action potential dome in a heterogeneous manner: Implication for arrhythmogenesis
Int J Cardiol. 2007 Nov 23. Experimental Cardiology Group (ECG), Center for Heart Failure Research, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega3-PUFAs) from fish oil modulate various ion channels, including the L-type calcium current. As a result, fish oil shortens the cardiac action potential and may cause a loss of the dome of the action potential. Under conditions of increased preexisting heterogeneity in repolarization this may aggravate dispersion in action potential duration. We isolated ventricular myocytes of explanted hearts from patients with cardiomyopathy at the time of cardiac transplantation, and characterized spike-and-dome morphology in the presence of acutely administered fish oil. Fish oil omega3-PUFA eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), but not the control omega9-PUFA oleic acid, curtails the action potential-dome in a heterogeneous manner and may even result in loss of the action potential-dome in some but not all myocytes.

Immediate effects of n-3 fatty acid infusion on the induction of sustained ventricular tachycardia.
Schrepf R. linikum der Universitat Munchen, 80336 Munich, Germany. Lancet. 2004 May 1;363(9419):1441-2.
Increased consumption of n-3 fatty acids reduces mortality from sudden cardiac death, indicating that such acids have anti-arrhythmic effects. We did electrophysiological testing in ten patients with implanted cardioverter defibrillators who were at high risk of sudden cardiac death. To assess their immediate effects on the induction of sustained ventricular tachycardia, n-3 fatty acids were infused. Such tachycardia was not induced in five of seven patients. Our findings show that infusion of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids does not induce arrhythmia, but did result in a reduction of sustained ventricular tachycardia in some patients.

Fish oils better than cardiac defibrillators?
Fish oils could potentially save more lives than cardiac defibrillators. Many studies have already established a link between consumption of EPA and DHA fatty acids found in oily fish to a lower risk of fatal heart rhythm abnormalities. This latest study tried to estimate the potential public health impact of raising omega-3 levels with fish oil supplements. Using a computer-simulated community of 100,000 Americans and data from past medical studies, the researchers estimated that raising omega-3 levels would save 58 lives each year. This amounts to a 6 percent total death reduction -- mostly by preventing sudden cardiac death, according to the study authors, led by Dr. Thomas E. Kottke of the Heart Center at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Even if automated external defibrillators (AEDs) were available in every home and public area, the devices would lower a community's annual death rate by less than 1 percent. Based on this analysis, it appears that communities where people eat more fish or supplement with fish oil would have more widespread benefits than either AEDs or implanted defibrillators. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, October 2006.
Most people can benefit from taking one, two or three fish oil softgels a day unless they consume fish at least two times a week.

Fish oil supplement and exercise
Australian researchers found that a combination of exercise and fish oil supplements was effective at reducing body fat and improving cholesterol levels and blood vessel function. Study participants who took fish oil, alone or with exercise, saw their levels of "good" HDL cholesterol go up, while their triglycerides (an unhealthy form of blood fat) took a dip. Meanwhile, both exercise and fish oil seemed to cut body fat. Peter R. C. Howe and colleagues at the University of South Australia in Adelaide randomly assigned 75 overweight adults to one of four groups: one that took 6 grams of fish oil per day; one that consumed fish oil and walked for 45 minutes three days per week; one that consumed pills containing sunflower oil; and a fourth that combined sunflower oil and walking. After 12 weeks, the researchers found, volunteers who were taking fish oil showed greater improvements in their blood fats and blood vessel function than those who took sunflower oil. What's more, exercise and fish oil each helped reduce body fat. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 2007.

Fish Oils and Prostate Cancer
Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as oily fish, and decreasing intake of omega-6 oils, may help prevent the spread of prostate cancer. The types of fats we consume do influence the function of our organs. In laboratory studies, scientists at Christie Hospital in Manchester, England found that fish oils could block the spread of cancerous cells. Omega-6 oils, found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, apparently increased the spread of tumor cells into bone marrow. This invasion was blocked by omega 3 fats -- the ones found in oily fish. The researchers believe omega-3 fatty acids interfere with functions of omega-6, which cancer cells may use as a source of energy, and prevent them from spreading beyond the prostate gland. Since most Americans eat a diet which has a much higher proportion of omega-6 fatty acids to omega 3 fats, it is possible that eating more fish, taking fish oil capsules, and reducing intake of omega-6 fats may well help to reduce the spread of prostate cancer cells.

Metabolism of Fish Oil
Fish oils are made in the body from a fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). ALA is an omega-3 fatty acid found predominantly in flaxseed oil (also known as linseed) and hemp seed oil. Green leafy vegetables, soybeans, walnuts, and canola oil have small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial because they provide fluidity to cell membranes and improve communication between brain cells. Omega-3s also reduce the clotting ability of platelets, thus potentially decreasing the incidence of heart attacks and strokes. Two very important omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahaexanoic acid (DHA) which together are found in fish oils. These fatty acids are found in seafood, especially mackerel, salmon, striped bass, rainbow trout, halibut, tuna, and sardines.

What's the difference between fish oil and cod liver oil?
Fish oil supplements are dietary supplements that contain oil from the fatty flesh of cold water fish such as mackerel, anchovy, and sardines. The active ingredients in fish oil supplements are essential fatty acids known as omega-3 fatty acids. They typically include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Cod liver oil is derived from the liver of cod fish. Cod liver oil contains Vitamins A and D and has a different concentration of EPA and DHA than fish oils. Cod liver oil has a higher ratio of DHA to EPA, while fish oils have a higher ratio of EPA to DHA. But, overall, fish oils have almost twice the amount of total EPA plus DHA than cod liver oil per same size capsule or teaspoon.
To summarize, cod liver oil has the additional Vitamins A and D, a higher ratio of DHA to EPA, but about half as much total EPA plus DHA than fish oils. Practically speaking, they are both healthy to ingest, but if you want a higher amount of total EPA and DHA, you would go with fish oils.

Side effects, caution and interaction with prescription medications
Taking one to three fish oil supplements should not cause side effects. Very high dosages of fish oil supplements could lead to side effects such as fishy taste in the mouth, insomnia, and lowering of immune system. A fish oil side effect of concern is blood thinning which is a good thing except in those who are taking Coumadin or other blood thinners. It may be a good idea to stop fish oil supplements a couple of weeks before major surgery.

Coumadin
Fish oil interaction with warfarin.
Buckley MS, Goff AD,Shawnee Mission, KS of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724
Ann Pharmacother. 2004 Jan;38(1):50-2.
To report a case of elevated international normalized ratio (INR) in a patient taking fish oil and warfarin. A 67-year-old white woman had been taking warfarin for 1(1/2) years due to recurrent transient ischemic attacks. Her medical history included hypothyroidism, hyperlipidemia, osteopenia, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. She also experienced an inferior myocardial infarction in 1995 requiring angioplasty, surgical repair of her femoral artery in 1995, and hernia repair in 1996. This patient has her INR checked in the anticoagulation clinic and is followed monthly by the clinical pharmacist. Prior to the interaction, her INR was therapeutic for 5 months while she was taking warfarin 1.5 mg/d. The patient admitted to doubling her fish oil dose from 1000 to 2000 mg/d. Without dietary, lifestyle, or medication changes, the INR increased from 2.8 to 4.3 within 1 month. The INR decreased to 1.6 one week after subsequent fish oil reduction, necessitating a return to the original warfarin dosing regimen. Fish oil supplementation could have provided additional anticoagulation with warfarin therapy. Fish oil, an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, consists of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. This fatty acid may affect platelet aggregation and/or vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors. Omega-3 fatty acids may lower thromboxane A(2) supplies within the platelet as well as decrease factor VII levels. Although controversial, this case report illustrates that fish oil can provide additive anticoagulant effects when given with warfarin. CONCLUSIONS: This case reveals a significant rise in INR after the dose of concomitant fish oil was doubled. Patients undergoing anticoagulation therapy with warfarin should be educated about and monitored for possible drug-herb interactions. Pharmacists can play a crucial role in identifying possible drug interactions by asking patients taking warfarin about herbal and other alternative medicine product use.

How are Fish Oils supplements available?
Supplements of fish oils that contain EPA and DHA are sold over the counter. DHA is also sold by itself. In the body, DHA is found mostly in the brain, retina, and in sperm. At this time I don't see a need to take DHA by itself. It's much cheaper and perhaps better to take both EPA and DHA together.

Fish oil supplements or eating fish? Effect on blood omega-3 levels
Eating oil fish two times a week can increase the EPA and DHA content of red blood cells and blood lipids in a similar manner as taking two fish oil capsules a day.

Immediate effects of n-3 fatty acid infusion on the induction of sustained ventricular tachycardia.
Schrepf R. linikum der Universitat Munchen, 80336 Munich, Germany.
Lancet. 2004 May 1;363(9419):1441-2.
Increased consumption of n-3 fatty acids reduces mortality from sudden cardiac death, indicating that such acids have anti-arrhythmic effects. We did electrophysiological testing in ten patients with implanted cardioverter defibrillators who were at high risk of sudden cardiac death. To assess their immediate effects on the induction of sustained ventricular tachycardia, n-3 fatty acids were infused. Such tachycardia was not induced in five of seven patients. Our findings show that infusion of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids does not induce arrhythmia, but did result in a reduction of sustained ventricular tachycardia in some patients.

Smart Eating for a Smarter Baby
The brain is largely made of fat, and the types of fat we consume can have an influence on how well our brain functions. Most studies show that fish oils (DHA and EPA) are essential to optimal brain function. But does maternal diet influence brain development of the child? There is a growth spurt in the human brain during the last trimester of pregnancy and the first postnatal months, with a large increase in the cerebral content of DHA. The fetus and the newborn infant depend on maternal supply of DHA. Sometimes maternal intake of DHA during pregnancy and lactation is marginal. Researchers at the University of Oslo in Norway examined the effect of supplementing pregnant and lactating women with cod liver oil on mental development of the children, compared with maternal supplementation with corn oil. The study was randomized and double-blinded. A total of 590 pregnant women were recruited in week 18 of pregnancy to take daily 10 mL of cod liver oil or corn oil until 3 months after delivery. The cod liver oil contains DHA and EPA. The corn oil contains linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. All infants of these women were scheduled for assessment of cognitive function at 6 and 9 months of age. As part of the protocol, 135 subjects from this population were invited for intelligence testing with the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) at 4 years of age. The K-ABC is a measure of intelligence and achievement designed for children aged 2.5 years through 12.5 years. Children who were born to mothers who had taken cod liver oil during pregnancy and lactation scored higher on the Mental Processing Composite of the K-ABC at 4 years of age as compared with children whose mothers had taken corn oil. Dr. Sahelian says: Women who are pregnant may consider eating more fish, taking cod liver oil or fish oil supplements in consultation with their obstetrician.

Fish oil supplements contain no mercury
ConsumerLab.com, an independent evaluator of dietary supplements and nutrition products, released results of its product review of Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA & DHA) from fish oils. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are fatty acids that have been shown to help reduce cardiovascular disease, reduce the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as showing promise in the treatment of a number of other conditions. A concern with fish oil products has been potential contamination with mercury. ConsumerLab.com purchased 20 dietary supplements containing EPA and/or DHA and tested them for their claimed levels of these ingredients as stated on the label, as well as for mercury contamination and evidence of decomposition. Although six of the products had lower levels of EPA/DHA as stated on the label, none of the twenty products showed evidence of decomposition and none were found to contain detectable levels of mercury.

Fish oil supplements and pregnancy
Pregnant women who take fish oil supplements have less inflammation in cord blood leading to a less allergic profile. Dr. Susanne Krauss-Etschmann from Children's Hospital of Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany evaluated how fish oil supplements given to pregnant women from week 22 until delivery affected maternal and fetal allergy-related parameters. Fish oil supplementation was associated with decreased maternal mRNA expression levels of interferon-gamma and interleukin-1 and with increases in TGF-beta, decreases in cord blood CCR4, IL-13, and IL-4 mRNA levels. Expression of TH1-associated cytokines was unaffected by fish oil supplementation. All these point to possible benefits in terms of allergic reactions in infants, but these findings need to determined in actual clinical studies. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008;121:464-470.

Fish oil supplier - Nordic Naturals
A branded fish oil supplement has been shown to reduce anxiety measures in men with a history of substance abuse. Deficiencies in omega-3 are associated with a variety of psychiatric conditions, including depression, aggression, attention deficit, and others. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial published in the December 2006 issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (vol 26(6), pages 661-665) is one of the first to demonstrate benefits from fish oil in adults with anxiety. Thirteen men were given 5 capsules per day of Nordic Naturals ProEPA / EPA for 3 months. Eleven men received placebo capsules. A subgroup of men who had taken either fish oil or placebo was followed for an additional 3 months. Each purified lemon-flavored fish oil capsule provided 450 mg of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), 100 mg of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and 50 mg of other omega-3 fatty acids. A modified version of the Profiles of Mood States (POMS) was used to measure changes in anxiety. The POMS was administered at baseline and monthly to all subjects. A progressive and significant decline in anxiety scores was observed among the subjects who were supplemented with the Nordic Naturals ProEPA / EPA. No changes were seen among the placebo group patients. Furthermore, anxiety scores remained low in the sub-group who had taken the fish oil when followed for the additional 3 months. Dr. Laure Buydens-Branchey, psychiatrist, at the DVA New York Harbor Healthcare System in Brooklyn, NY, completed this study. These preliminary data indicate that long chain omega-3 supplementation may have additional benefits for mental health. Nordic Naturals is a leader in omega-3 fish oils and EFA blends with over 50 different fish oil products known for their exceptional taste, freshness, and purity. The company offers over 50 different fish oil products and EFA blends, including liquids, capsules, and children's chewables.

Fish Oil supplement questions
Q. All of us in the family take fish oil. I was searching for good fish oil to buy the other day when i came accross an article by prof. Saldean which concerns me: it says that the fish oil available (most , if not all) are unstable , meaning- there are fish oil that as early as one day after exposure to air (peroxide value 20), it becomes rancid, should i continue taking fish oil? How harmful is fish oil when it comes to 'oxidation'? He also added that fish oil increases level of malondialdehyde which is the marker of free radical in the blood and tissues such as heart and blood vessels.
A. We cannot speak for other products, but we do have confidence in Fish Oil Wild product which the staff here take ourselves. It is developed by a famous doctor Ray Sahelian, M.D. and he says he knows it is good since he notices the visual enhancement from taking it which only happens when the EPA and DHA in the oil are intact.

Q. I read with interest the comments from the medical doctor re: in the December 2006 issue of Dr. Sahelian's Supplement Update Newsletter. He states that he took 3 capsules of fish oil daily. How much of an effect the fish oil provided might be influenced by the amount of EPA and DHA contained in the capsules. There are varying amounts of these in different capsules. Also I think that a 6 week time frame is a relatively short period of time to test out whether a supplement will be helpful. Most drug studies are conducted for a longer period of time than this doctor is allowing for the fish oil to take effect. I do believe that I have read that natural methods take longer to be effective versus some of the drug. Reading Dr. Barry Sears information, Omega RX, plus his work with the sole survivor of the Sago Mine Disaster certainly seems to indicate the beneficial effects of fish oil. I am a health care provider and have had a very beneficial effect from the fish oil and zone diet. He may wish to do some further reading about fish oil and start taking a pharmaceutical grade fish oil.

Q. I read that Dr. Ray Sahelian advises not to exceed three grams of fish oil capsules per day to avoid possible immune system suppression. If I also eat salmon on a daily basis does that reduce my daily fish oil by pill limit? Many thanks.
A. Yes, eating fish such as wild salmon reduces the need for fish oil capsules.

Q. I read that large amounts of fish consumption may result in side effects due to the potential presence of environmental toxins such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, and other contaminants. Do fish oils present the same problems with toxins?
A. The risks of exposure to environmental toxins with fish consumption is reduced through purification processes used to develop concentrated fish oil supplements.

Q. Is fish oil supplementation helpful in phenyketonuria?
A. Fish oils may improve motor coordination.

Q. The brand name is Physicians Formula, for the Fish Oil Wild, but is it a pharmaceutical grade product ? I currently buy a pharmaceutical grade fish oil product because it doesn�t cause as much belching for me.
A. The wild fish oil comes from seas around the North Sea which are unpolluted. Except for certain amino acids such as tryptophan, the term 'pharmaceutical grade' is not used to define supplements such as fish oil, those using it do so for marketing purposes and it is not accurate, that is not how fish oils are defined.

Q. I just started taking Fish Oil capsules and I was wondering if it affects menstrual flow. I believe I remember reading that , but now I can't locate the information. So far it has been great with my mood, and concentration, though.
A. It is possible fish oils could influence menstrual flow either by thinning the blood or by influencing hormone levels. Of course, much depends on how many softgels are taken.

Q. I have been taking fish oil with GLA (along with red yeast rice) for high cholesterol and triglycerides for about 2 months and have enjoyed amazing results! However I am scheduled to have a bone fusion surgery on my spine in about 9 weeks. My question is....since fish oil supplements thins the blood, how long before the surgery (weeks? days?) should I stop taking it to get it out of my system before the surgery?
A. Stopping the fish oils about two weeks before surgery seems to be a reasonable approach.

Q. I read an article 'Are fish oils capsules as good as eating fish?' I have been using fish oil softgels for years and personally feel that every human being regardless of age or health status should get routine omega-3 fish oils from either supplements or by eating fish. However, I have frequently seen opinions comparing omega-3 fish oil supplements with fish consumption to presume equal benefit. Some go further and prefer supplements over fish because of mercury contamination issues. Comparing eating fish to Omega-3 fish oil supplements, the benefit might in fact be equal as far as only omega-3 oils are concerned. But eating (wild) fish has one additional extraordinary health benefit--many species supply astaxanthin. Books of traditional Arabic medicine record the statement of the famous Greek physician (Aristotle/Socrates....sorry I forgot the name) who wrote that he has successfully treated many (skin) cancer patients by making them eat fish from the desert. Remembering the role of astaxanthin in UV protection and reducing proliferation of cancer cells, this seems like an interesting line of research at the very least. Along with omega-3 fish oils, many wild fish contains natural astaxanthin (and possibly some other beneficial compounds).
A. Fish have a large number of other substances besides oils and astaxanthin that have health benefits so one should eat fish even if they are taking fish oil supplements. But, as far as the benefits of omeg3 fish oils, the results seem to be similar whether they come from eating fish or taking fish oil supplements.

Q. Do fish oil supplements improve libido? Can they be taken the same day as tongkat ali herb?
A. Fish oil supplements may improve libido in a slight way, but they may also have an effect on blood flow which could be helpful for erectile dysfunction in men whose impotence problems are due to poor circulation. Yes, they can be taken together with the aphrodisiac herb.

Q. If you are allergic to seafood, can you still take supplements containing omega's 3, fish oil?
A. In almost all cases, yes. Since the seafood allergy is most likely to iodine or protein components but not the oil, we have not heard of allergy to fish oil itself.

Q. I'm thinking of getting some fish oil supplements, and would like to ask which is more effective for cognitive functions -- the capsule or the liquid forms?
A. Either the liquid or the capsules would be fine as long as the dosage is the same.

Q. Which is healthier, fish oil supplements or Borage oil ?
A. It depends what condition is being treated. But in most people, fish oil supplements provide fatty acids that are deficient in the diet.

Q. In a web article it suggest that bi-polar people have an increase in Omega 6 fatty acid and a need for Omega 3. Is there a fish oil that would have only Omega 3? Most fish oils seems to have both the Omega 6 and Omega 3.
A. Fish oils only have omega-3, not omeg 6. They should only have EPA and DHA.

Q. I'm sure my son has bipolar disease, he has been diagnosed with depression, but the doctors hesitated giving him anything until he went to a psychiatrist, which he can't afford (no insurance) will taking the supplement fish oil help him?
A. It is not possible for us to predict whether fish oil supplements will treat his bipolar disease or depression, but fish oils do have a positive effect on mood for some users.

Has there been any research on fish oil�s blood thinning strength. I am 67 years old and taking one 81 mg aspirin every other day. I plan to go from one 1,000 mg fish oil capsule per day to three per day to hopefully enhance brain efficiency. Will a 81 mg aspirin plus 3-1,000 mg fish oil capsules possibly cause a bleeding problem? What�s your opinion of fish oil�s effect on the brain?
It is difficult to predict the blood thinning potential or effect of aspirin and fish oils in any one individual without doing testing since each person has a different reaction based on their body chemistry, other supplements used, and diet. It is very rare for fish oil supplements to cause a bleeding problem when used alone. Aspirin alone can cause bleeding problems and it is possible that the combination can thin the blood even more. Whether this will result in a clinically obvious case of internal bleeding is difficult to predict. Fish oils have important health benefits, including improving brain function.

I have a heart problem it is in the rythum. I have had all kinds of tests I also had a TIA about a month ago. I have had ultra sound on my neck, heart, MRI stress test, halter monitor, and they even put wires into my legs and into my heart to get on time. I am on warfrin and Rythmol, and metoprolol. I know you can not give specific advise. But I think if I take more fish oil every day. And check to see if I need more potassium and Ca and Mg. I may be able to get off of this stuff I am on and have normal rythum. I am 57 years old and have only been to dr. 3 or 4 times in my life.

Is it true that fish oil supplements have been known to produce notable increases in blood sugar and sharp declines in insulin secretions in diabetic patients of both type 1 and type 2 diabetics?
We have not come across such studies in humans that indicate one needs to be concerned using these supplements in those who are diabetic.