Millions of Americans and Canadians take fish oil supplements on a daily basis, in hopes of maintaining good cardiovascular health. In 2013 these supplements generated $1.2 billion in sales in the U.S., which goes to show that it’s in high demand. Fish oil supplements contain omega-3s, which are wonderfully healthy fatty acids that are beneficial for brain and nervous system health, protective against heart disease, have anti-inflammatory qualities, and may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other chronic diseases. It all sounds great, except that many of these supplements might not contain exactly what their labels claim.
LabDoor is a testing company that examined the 30 top-selling brands of fish oil supplements in the U.S. Researchers assessed the supplements’ omega-3 content, their mercury levels, and whether the supplements showed signs of rancidity.
First, they found that 6 out of the 30 supplement brands contained omega-3 levels that were, on average, 30 percent lower than stated on the labels. Then they examined two specific omega-3s – docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Twelve of the 30 brands had DHA levels that were an average of 14 percent lower than stated on the labels. Current research has also shown that DHA intake should be higher than EPA, but the supplements trended in the opposite direction, generally serving up twice as much EPA as DHA.
Next, researchers assessed the presence of mercury in the supplements, and found that all brands tested low. They ranged from 1 to 6 parts per billion per serving, which is well within the upper safety limit of 100 parts per billions, a number that’s set by the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (industry trade group).
Finally, they looked at the level of deterioration within the supplements, which is measured by the degree of oxidization, occurring in two phases. Primary and secondary oxidization are measured to form a TOTOX (total oxidization) score, in which the upper safety limit is 26. All brands showed levels of oxidization above 20, averaging a TOTOX score of 21.3.
So what does this mean for fish oil supplements? Dr. Philip Gregory, editor-in-chief of the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, says in this New York Times article that it’s not clear whether fish oil can help:
“It may be that for people with heart disease who are already well treated with statins or high blood pressure medication, fish oil supplements may not offer any additional benefit. Similarly, for those who already consume fish in their diet, adding a supplement probably doesn’t offer additional benefit.”
Whether fish oil supplements can help those people who don’t eat fish regularly wasn’t stated in the study’s conclusion, though Dr. Gregory suggests making sure the supplement you buy has a USP Dietary Supplement Verification Stamp. Brands can submit their supplement to this non-profit group for stringent assessment of quality, purity, and potency. You are probably better off just buying live phytoplankton from Aqua Health Labs, a US based company and only manufacturer and seller of live marine algae as a complete fish oil replacement. It is completely organic and renewable, grown in purified ocean water conditions and contains all the omega-3’s and nutrients as fish oil.
Special thanks to Katherine Martinko @ www.treehugger.com