| Fish oil side effects updated on March 31 2009 |
Omega 3-fatty Acids
Meat-lover diets are overwhelmed by saturated animal fat and omega-6 fatty acids.
Saturated fats from mammal products contribute to many chronic inflammatory and
autoimmune diseases. Omega-6 fatty acid (linoleic acid) is in most vegetable and
cooking oils and is the primary oil used in processed and fast foods. Some of this fat
may break down into arachidonic acid that may enhance inflammation.
Omega 3 fatty acids and gamma linoleic acid are good fats, but we always have too
little in our diets. Gamma linoleic acid can be found in borage seed oil and evening
primrose seed oil, while omega 3 fatty acids are found in cold-water fishes, and
some plants oils such as flaxseed, olive and canola oils.
FISH OIL ACTIVE INGREDIENT
Omega 3 fatty acid is a group of fatty acids characterized by a double bond that sits
three carbons down from the n terminal of the molecule, e.g. eicosapentaenoic acid.
[1] N-3 Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have well documented anti-
inflammatory effects in vitro and have also been demonstrated to have health
benefits in a range of chronic inflammatory diseases, including cardiovascular
disease, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, supporting their role in modulating
inflammation in vivo. [2] Fishes that give good fats include Mackerel, Herring,
Sardines, Anchovies, Albacore tuna and Salmon. In general, the colder the water
they live in, the more omega-3 oil in the fish.
FISH OIL SIDE EFFECTS ON HEALTHY SUBJECTS
Fish oil side effects vary depending on the brand, dosage and the user physical
conditions. Low dose fish oil extracts are found to be beneficial to healthy, older or
sick subjects, but long-term use of high dose fish oil may lead to harmful side
effects. [8] The most common side effects of fish oil supplements include fishy odor
on the breath, stomach upset, gastrointestinal disturbances, and greasy stools. To
avoid the unpleasant fish oil taste and gastrointestinal side effects, researchers
suggested using enteric-coating to prepare the fish-oil supplements. [9]
Fish oil side effects have been observed and reported in subjects with varioius
health conditions. Insignificant side effects were noted with patients suffered from
sporadic adenomas [10], arthritis [11-12], asthma [13], depression [14], and
systemic lupus erythematosus [15,16]. No untoward or only mild gastrointestinal
side effects were observed in patients suffered from cancer. [17-20], from high
blood pressure [21,22], from high triglyceride or cholesterol [23, 24] However,
potential side effects such as gastrointestinal distress, prolonged bleeding, and
vitamin A toxicity may happen to patients suffered from pruritus. [25]
In a study of healthy male subjects, supplementation of purified fish oil to eight
healthy male subjects led to reduced platelet aggregation and whole blood
viscosity. [7] This may be a good news for people with high blood viscosity, but it
may lead to prolonged bleeding under certain conditions. [25]
Intake of fish is a major source of exposure to mercury, and a high content of
mercury probably inhibits the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the
development of coronary artery disease. In some studies no beneficial effects of fish
intake on coronary heart disease could be found; one Finnish study even found a
positive correlation between intake of freshwater fish and coronary heart disease.
Researchers explained this paradox due to a high content of mercury in fish. In one
study the odds ratio for myocardial infarction in those with the highest content of
mercury was 2.16. They also observed a positive correlation between mercury in
hair and the progression of carotid atherosclerosis. [28]
HOW IT IS USED
The optimal dose of omega 3 fatty acid is not yet determined. However, 1 g of fish
oil has shown to reduce overall and cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction,
and sudden cardiac death. Higher doses may be used for its potent triglyceride-
lowering effects and for patients with rheumatoid arthritis to reduce non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory use. American Heart Association Dietary Guidelines committee to
recommend to the general population the consumption of at least two servings of
fatty fish per week, in addition to vegetable oils high in alpha-linolenic acid. [27]
Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation of infant formula has shown benefit in infant
neural growth and development. [3,4] Most commercial products of fish oil are in
form of softgels. The maximum dose is about 3 g, total of EPA/DHA per day. Be sure
to check the labels: the label may say “1 g of fish oil” but it may contain a petite
amount of EPA and DHA. Look for high potency products, so you donÂ’t need to take
so many softgels a day.
To minimize side effects such as belching and flatulence, one should avoid taking the
entire dose at one time. Try splitting a 3 g daily dose into three 1 g doses, and take
throughout the day with meals. Side effects depend on the brand that you use, if
you have trouble tolerating one fish oil supplement, try switching to another brand.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITIES
Eicosapentaenoic acid has received increasing attention as a therapy for the cancer
anorexia/weight loss syndrome. Multiple studies, including laboratory and
preliminary clinical studies suggest this fish oil derivative may benefit cancer
patients. Recently, however, three large comparative studies suggest that
eicosapentaenoic acid is relatively ineffective for treating this syndrome. [1]
ANTI-ALLERGIC ACTIVITIES (AS DIET IN PREGNANCY)
Supplementation of the maternal diet in pregnancy with omega-3 polyunsaturated
fatty acids may provide a non-invasive intervention with significant potential to
prevent the development of allergic and possibly other immune-mediated diseases.
[2]
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
The low incidence of reported heart attacks and cardiovascular-related deaths in
Greenland Eskimos and the Japanese has generated interest in the possible
protective effect of their diet, which is made up primarily of fish and related marine
foods. [5] Several clinical studies have documented that intake of fish may reduce
mortality from coronary heart disease, and two epidemiological investigations have
shown a 50% reduction in the incidence of sudden death and of "primary cardiac
arrest" in subjects eating fish. [28] Other studies show that taking omega-3 fatty
acid supplements can also decrease the risk and severity of cardiovascular disease.
[5, 6]
Low dose fish oil extract administration improves the function of platelet and red
blood cells and may help prevent cerebrovascular diseases in elderly subjects
without any side effects. [26]
INFLAMMATORY DISEASES
Such supplements also provide symptomatic relief for rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Recent research suggests that asthma, another highly prevalent, chronic
inflammatory disease, may also respond to fish oil supplements. [4]
REFERENCE
[1] Jatoi A Fish oil, lean tissue, and cancer: is there a role for eicosapentaenoic acid in treating
the cancer anorexia/weight loss syndrome? Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2005 Jul;55(1):37-43. [2]
Dunstan JA and Prescott SL Does fish oil supplementation in pregnancy reduce the risk of
allergic disease in infants? Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005 Jun;5(3):215-21. [3] Oh R
Practical applications of fish oil (Omega-3 fatty acids) in primary care. J Am Board Fam Pract.
2005 Jan-Feb;18(1):28-36. [4] Stephensen CB Fish oil and inflammatory disease: is asthma
the next target for n-3 fatty acid supplements? Nutr Rev. 2004 Dec;62(12):486-9. [5] Zeller FP
and Spears C Fish oil: effectiveness as a dietary supplement in the prevention of heart
disease. Drug Intell Clin Pharm. 1987 Jul-Aug;21(7-8):584-9. [6] Herold PM and Kinsella JE
Fish oil consumption and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease: a comparison of findings
from animal and human feeding trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 1986 Apr;43(4):566-98. [7] Terano T
Effect of oral administration of highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid on platelet function, blood
viscosity and red cell deformability in healthy human subjects. Atherosclerosis. 1983 Mar;46(3):
321-31.] [8] Bartoli GM Dietary fish oil inhibits human erythrocyte Mg,NaK-ATPase. Biochem
Biophys Res Commun. 1995 Aug 24;213(3):881-7. [9] Belluzzi A Effect of an enteric-coated
fish-oil preparation on relapses in Crohn's disease. N Engl J Med. 1996 Jun 13;334(24):1557-
60. [10] In a study, 60 patients with sporadic adenomas received low dose fish oil for 30 days.
Side effects were found to be insignificant. Anti M Effects of different doses of fish oil on rectal
cell proliferation in patients with sporadic colonic adenomas. Gastroenterology. 1994 Dec;107
(6):1709-18. [11] No significant fish oil side effects were detected in a 12 week-study of fish
oil on 8 patients with arthritis. Astorga G Active rheumatoid arthritis: effect of dietary
supplementation with omega-3 oils. A controlled double-blind trial Rev Med Chil. 1991 Mar;119
(3):267-72. [12] No serious side effects were observed when 51 patients with arthritis
supplemented with fish oil extracts for 12 weeks. Faarvang KL Fish oils and rheumatoid
arthritis. A randomized and double-blind study. Ugeskr Laeger. 1994 Jun 6;156(23):3495-8.
[13] No significant fish oil side effects were observed, after 29 children suffered from asthma
were supplemented with fish oil for 10 months. Nagakura T. Dietary supplementation with fish
oil rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in children with bronchial asthma. Eur Respir J.
2000 Nov;16(5):861-5. [14] Twelve patients with depressive symptoms were treated with 1.5 to
2 g/day of fish oil for 6 months. No patients developed hypomania or manic symptoms. No
significant fish oil side effects were reported. Osher Y Omega-3 eicosapentaenoic Acid in
bipolar depression: report of a small open-label study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2005 Jun;66(6):726-
9. [15] No major side effects were noted in a study of 27 patients with active systemic lupus
erythematosus supplemented with high fish oil. Walton AJ Dietary fish oil and the severity of
symptoms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Ann Rheum Dis. 1991 Jul;50(7):463-
6. [16] Oral supplementation of fish oil extracts induced prolonged remission of SLE in 10
consecutive patients without any side-effects. Das UN Beneficial effect of eicosapentaenoic and
docosahexaenoic acids [fish oil extracts] in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus
and its relationship to the cytokine network. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 1994
Sep;51(3):207-13. [17] Patients with malignancy and weight loss > or = 2% of body weight in
the preceding month took concentrated, high-doses of fish oil that were supplied by the NIH. A
majority of patients did not gain weight and There was marked variability in the tolerability of
the capsules, and many patients had gastrointestinal side effects. [Burns CP et al Phase II
study of high-dose fish oil capsules for patients with cancer-related cachexia. Cancer. 2004 Jul
15;101(2):370-8.] [18] Postsurgical cancer patients receiving fish oil/medium-chain triglyceride
structured lipid experienced no untoward side effects. Kenler AS Early enteral feeding in
postsurgical cancer patients. Fish oil structured lipid-based polymeric formula versus a standard
polymeric formula. Ann Surg. 1996 Mar;223(3):316-33. [19] EPA (95% pure, fish oil) was
administered to 26 patients suffered from pancreatic cancer for a few weeks. Fish oil
supplementation was well tolerated, with only five patients experiencing side effects possibly
attributable to the EPA. Wigmore SJ Effect of oral eicosapentaenoic acid on weight loss in
patients with pancreatic cancer. Nutr Cancer. 2000;36(2):177-84. [20] Patients undergoing
major abdominal surgery for upper gastrointestinal malignancies receiving fish oil/medium-
chain triglyceride structured lipid experienced no untoward side effects demonstrated a general
trend toward improved hepatic, renal and immune function found in the previous study. Swails
Effect of a fish oil structured lipid-based diet on prostaglandin release from mononuclear cells
in cancer patients after surgery. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1997 Sep-Oct;21(5):266-74. [21]
Common fish oil side effects are eructation and a fishy taste, in six studies of 291 untreated
hypertensives. Appel LJ. Does supplementation of diet with 'fish oil' reduce blood pressure? A
meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. Am J Kidney Dis. 1993 Jul;22(1):151-7. [22] Fish oil
may help prevent coronary artery disease. Four studies of total 203 subjects were reviewed.
Fish oil was found to be able reduce diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride level.
Gastrointestinal side effects were observed in one study. [Sommerfield T et al, Omega-3 fatty
acids for intermittent claudication. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004.] [23] In an open study
of 3,958 hyperlipemic patients, 471 subjects supplemented with fish oil experienced
gastrointestinal side effects. Kunzel U[Clinical experiences with a standardized fish oil
concentrate. Field study with 3,958 hyperlipemic patients in the practice of an established
physician] Fortschr Med. 1990 Jul 30;108(22):437-42. [24] Minor gastrointestinal side effects
were reported in a study of fish oil using 48 patients with hypertriglyceridaemia. Miller JP
Triglyceride lowering effect of MaxEPA fish lipid concentrate (oil): a multicentre placebo
controlled double blind study. Clin Chim Acta. 1988 Dec 30;178(3):251-9. [25] Vergili-Nelsen
JM Benefits of fish oil supplementation for hemodialysis patients. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003 Sep;
103(9):1174-7. [26] Terano T Changes in fatty acid composition, platelet aggregability and
RBC function in elderly subjects with administration of low-dose fish oil concentrate and
comparison with younger subjects Nippon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. 1994 Aug;31(8):596-603.
[27] Eilat-Adar S et al, Omega-3 fatty acids, fish, fish oil and cardiovascular disease--a review
with implications to Israeli nutritional guidelines Harefuah. 2004 Aug;143(8):585-91, 622, 621.
[28] Landmark K and Aursnes I Mercury, fish, fish oil and the risk of cardiovascular disease
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2004 Jan 22;124(2):198-200
Meat-lover diets are overwhelmed by saturated animal fat and omega-6 fatty acids.
Saturated fats from mammal products contribute to many chronic inflammatory and
autoimmune diseases. Omega-6 fatty acid (linoleic acid) is in most vegetable and
cooking oils and is the primary oil used in processed and fast foods. Some of this fat
may break down into arachidonic acid that may enhance inflammation.
Omega 3 fatty acids and gamma linoleic acid are good fats, but we always have too
little in our diets. Gamma linoleic acid can be found in borage seed oil and evening
primrose seed oil, while omega 3 fatty acids are found in cold-water fishes, and
some plants oils such as flaxseed, olive and canola oils.
FISH OIL ACTIVE INGREDIENT
Omega 3 fatty acid is a group of fatty acids characterized by a double bond that sits
three carbons down from the n terminal of the molecule, e.g. eicosapentaenoic acid.
[1] N-3 Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have well documented anti-
inflammatory effects in vitro and have also been demonstrated to have health
benefits in a range of chronic inflammatory diseases, including cardiovascular
disease, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, supporting their role in modulating
inflammation in vivo. [2] Fishes that give good fats include Mackerel, Herring,
Sardines, Anchovies, Albacore tuna and Salmon. In general, the colder the water
they live in, the more omega-3 oil in the fish.
FISH OIL SIDE EFFECTS ON HEALTHY SUBJECTS
Fish oil side effects vary depending on the brand, dosage and the user physical
conditions. Low dose fish oil extracts are found to be beneficial to healthy, older or
sick subjects, but long-term use of high dose fish oil may lead to harmful side
effects. [8] The most common side effects of fish oil supplements include fishy odor
on the breath, stomach upset, gastrointestinal disturbances, and greasy stools. To
avoid the unpleasant fish oil taste and gastrointestinal side effects, researchers
suggested using enteric-coating to prepare the fish-oil supplements. [9]
Fish oil side effects have been observed and reported in subjects with varioius
health conditions. Insignificant side effects were noted with patients suffered from
sporadic adenomas [10], arthritis [11-12], asthma [13], depression [14], and
systemic lupus erythematosus [15,16]. No untoward or only mild gastrointestinal
side effects were observed in patients suffered from cancer. [17-20], from high
blood pressure [21,22], from high triglyceride or cholesterol [23, 24] However,
potential side effects such as gastrointestinal distress, prolonged bleeding, and
vitamin A toxicity may happen to patients suffered from pruritus. [25]
In a study of healthy male subjects, supplementation of purified fish oil to eight
healthy male subjects led to reduced platelet aggregation and whole blood
viscosity. [7] This may be a good news for people with high blood viscosity, but it
may lead to prolonged bleeding under certain conditions. [25]
Intake of fish is a major source of exposure to mercury, and a high content of
mercury probably inhibits the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the
development of coronary artery disease. In some studies no beneficial effects of fish
intake on coronary heart disease could be found; one Finnish study even found a
positive correlation between intake of freshwater fish and coronary heart disease.
Researchers explained this paradox due to a high content of mercury in fish. In one
study the odds ratio for myocardial infarction in those with the highest content of
mercury was 2.16. They also observed a positive correlation between mercury in
hair and the progression of carotid atherosclerosis. [28]
HOW IT IS USED
The optimal dose of omega 3 fatty acid is not yet determined. However, 1 g of fish
oil has shown to reduce overall and cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction,
and sudden cardiac death. Higher doses may be used for its potent triglyceride-
lowering effects and for patients with rheumatoid arthritis to reduce non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory use. American Heart Association Dietary Guidelines committee to
recommend to the general population the consumption of at least two servings of
fatty fish per week, in addition to vegetable oils high in alpha-linolenic acid. [27]
Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation of infant formula has shown benefit in infant
neural growth and development. [3,4] Most commercial products of fish oil are in
form of softgels. The maximum dose is about 3 g, total of EPA/DHA per day. Be sure
to check the labels: the label may say “1 g of fish oil” but it may contain a petite
amount of EPA and DHA. Look for high potency products, so you donÂ’t need to take
so many softgels a day.
To minimize side effects such as belching and flatulence, one should avoid taking the
entire dose at one time. Try splitting a 3 g daily dose into three 1 g doses, and take
throughout the day with meals. Side effects depend on the brand that you use, if
you have trouble tolerating one fish oil supplement, try switching to another brand.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITIES
Eicosapentaenoic acid has received increasing attention as a therapy for the cancer
anorexia/weight loss syndrome. Multiple studies, including laboratory and
preliminary clinical studies suggest this fish oil derivative may benefit cancer
patients. Recently, however, three large comparative studies suggest that
eicosapentaenoic acid is relatively ineffective for treating this syndrome. [1]
ANTI-ALLERGIC ACTIVITIES (AS DIET IN PREGNANCY)
Supplementation of the maternal diet in pregnancy with omega-3 polyunsaturated
fatty acids may provide a non-invasive intervention with significant potential to
prevent the development of allergic and possibly other immune-mediated diseases.
[2]
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
The low incidence of reported heart attacks and cardiovascular-related deaths in
Greenland Eskimos and the Japanese has generated interest in the possible
protective effect of their diet, which is made up primarily of fish and related marine
foods. [5] Several clinical studies have documented that intake of fish may reduce
mortality from coronary heart disease, and two epidemiological investigations have
shown a 50% reduction in the incidence of sudden death and of "primary cardiac
arrest" in subjects eating fish. [28] Other studies show that taking omega-3 fatty
acid supplements can also decrease the risk and severity of cardiovascular disease.
[5, 6]
Low dose fish oil extract administration improves the function of platelet and red
blood cells and may help prevent cerebrovascular diseases in elderly subjects
without any side effects. [26]
INFLAMMATORY DISEASES
Such supplements also provide symptomatic relief for rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Recent research suggests that asthma, another highly prevalent, chronic
inflammatory disease, may also respond to fish oil supplements. [4]
REFERENCE
[1] Jatoi A Fish oil, lean tissue, and cancer: is there a role for eicosapentaenoic acid in treating
the cancer anorexia/weight loss syndrome? Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2005 Jul;55(1):37-43. [2]
Dunstan JA and Prescott SL Does fish oil supplementation in pregnancy reduce the risk of
allergic disease in infants? Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005 Jun;5(3):215-21. [3] Oh R
Practical applications of fish oil (Omega-3 fatty acids) in primary care. J Am Board Fam Pract.
2005 Jan-Feb;18(1):28-36. [4] Stephensen CB Fish oil and inflammatory disease: is asthma
the next target for n-3 fatty acid supplements? Nutr Rev. 2004 Dec;62(12):486-9. [5] Zeller FP
and Spears C Fish oil: effectiveness as a dietary supplement in the prevention of heart
disease. Drug Intell Clin Pharm. 1987 Jul-Aug;21(7-8):584-9. [6] Herold PM and Kinsella JE
Fish oil consumption and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease: a comparison of findings
from animal and human feeding trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 1986 Apr;43(4):566-98. [7] Terano T
Effect of oral administration of highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid on platelet function, blood
viscosity and red cell deformability in healthy human subjects. Atherosclerosis. 1983 Mar;46(3):
321-31.] [8] Bartoli GM Dietary fish oil inhibits human erythrocyte Mg,NaK-ATPase. Biochem
Biophys Res Commun. 1995 Aug 24;213(3):881-7. [9] Belluzzi A Effect of an enteric-coated
fish-oil preparation on relapses in Crohn's disease. N Engl J Med. 1996 Jun 13;334(24):1557-
60. [10] In a study, 60 patients with sporadic adenomas received low dose fish oil for 30 days.
Side effects were found to be insignificant. Anti M Effects of different doses of fish oil on rectal
cell proliferation in patients with sporadic colonic adenomas. Gastroenterology. 1994 Dec;107
(6):1709-18. [11] No significant fish oil side effects were detected in a 12 week-study of fish
oil on 8 patients with arthritis. Astorga G Active rheumatoid arthritis: effect of dietary
supplementation with omega-3 oils. A controlled double-blind trial Rev Med Chil. 1991 Mar;119
(3):267-72. [12] No serious side effects were observed when 51 patients with arthritis
supplemented with fish oil extracts for 12 weeks. Faarvang KL Fish oils and rheumatoid
arthritis. A randomized and double-blind study. Ugeskr Laeger. 1994 Jun 6;156(23):3495-8.
[13] No significant fish oil side effects were observed, after 29 children suffered from asthma
were supplemented with fish oil for 10 months. Nagakura T. Dietary supplementation with fish
oil rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in children with bronchial asthma. Eur Respir J.
2000 Nov;16(5):861-5. [14] Twelve patients with depressive symptoms were treated with 1.5 to
2 g/day of fish oil for 6 months. No patients developed hypomania or manic symptoms. No
significant fish oil side effects were reported. Osher Y Omega-3 eicosapentaenoic Acid in
bipolar depression: report of a small open-label study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2005 Jun;66(6):726-
9. [15] No major side effects were noted in a study of 27 patients with active systemic lupus
erythematosus supplemented with high fish oil. Walton AJ Dietary fish oil and the severity of
symptoms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Ann Rheum Dis. 1991 Jul;50(7):463-
6. [16] Oral supplementation of fish oil extracts induced prolonged remission of SLE in 10
consecutive patients without any side-effects. Das UN Beneficial effect of eicosapentaenoic and
docosahexaenoic acids [fish oil extracts] in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus
and its relationship to the cytokine network. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 1994
Sep;51(3):207-13. [17] Patients with malignancy and weight loss > or = 2% of body weight in
the preceding month took concentrated, high-doses of fish oil that were supplied by the NIH. A
majority of patients did not gain weight and There was marked variability in the tolerability of
the capsules, and many patients had gastrointestinal side effects. [Burns CP et al Phase II
study of high-dose fish oil capsules for patients with cancer-related cachexia. Cancer. 2004 Jul
15;101(2):370-8.] [18] Postsurgical cancer patients receiving fish oil/medium-chain triglyceride
structured lipid experienced no untoward side effects. Kenler AS Early enteral feeding in
postsurgical cancer patients. Fish oil structured lipid-based polymeric formula versus a standard
polymeric formula. Ann Surg. 1996 Mar;223(3):316-33. [19] EPA (95% pure, fish oil) was
administered to 26 patients suffered from pancreatic cancer for a few weeks. Fish oil
supplementation was well tolerated, with only five patients experiencing side effects possibly
attributable to the EPA. Wigmore SJ Effect of oral eicosapentaenoic acid on weight loss in
patients with pancreatic cancer. Nutr Cancer. 2000;36(2):177-84. [20] Patients undergoing
major abdominal surgery for upper gastrointestinal malignancies receiving fish oil/medium-
chain triglyceride structured lipid experienced no untoward side effects demonstrated a general
trend toward improved hepatic, renal and immune function found in the previous study. Swails
Effect of a fish oil structured lipid-based diet on prostaglandin release from mononuclear cells
in cancer patients after surgery. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1997 Sep-Oct;21(5):266-74. [21]
Common fish oil side effects are eructation and a fishy taste, in six studies of 291 untreated
hypertensives. Appel LJ. Does supplementation of diet with 'fish oil' reduce blood pressure? A
meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. Am J Kidney Dis. 1993 Jul;22(1):151-7. [22] Fish oil
may help prevent coronary artery disease. Four studies of total 203 subjects were reviewed.
Fish oil was found to be able reduce diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride level.
Gastrointestinal side effects were observed in one study. [Sommerfield T et al, Omega-3 fatty
acids for intermittent claudication. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004.] [23] In an open study
of 3,958 hyperlipemic patients, 471 subjects supplemented with fish oil experienced
gastrointestinal side effects. Kunzel U[Clinical experiences with a standardized fish oil
concentrate. Field study with 3,958 hyperlipemic patients in the practice of an established
physician] Fortschr Med. 1990 Jul 30;108(22):437-42. [24] Minor gastrointestinal side effects
were reported in a study of fish oil using 48 patients with hypertriglyceridaemia. Miller JP
Triglyceride lowering effect of MaxEPA fish lipid concentrate (oil): a multicentre placebo
controlled double blind study. Clin Chim Acta. 1988 Dec 30;178(3):251-9. [25] Vergili-Nelsen
JM Benefits of fish oil supplementation for hemodialysis patients. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003 Sep;
103(9):1174-7. [26] Terano T Changes in fatty acid composition, platelet aggregability and
RBC function in elderly subjects with administration of low-dose fish oil concentrate and
comparison with younger subjects Nippon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. 1994 Aug;31(8):596-603.
[27] Eilat-Adar S et al, Omega-3 fatty acids, fish, fish oil and cardiovascular disease--a review
with implications to Israeli nutritional guidelines Harefuah. 2004 Aug;143(8):585-91, 622, 621.
[28] Landmark K and Aursnes I Mercury, fish, fish oil and the risk of cardiovascular disease
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2004 Jan 22;124(2):198-200
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Discuss with your doctor before taking any alternative medicine. This article is for
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| March 31, 2009 Dr. Jochen Senges of the University of Heidelberg gave fish oil or dummy capsules to more than 3,800 people who had suffered a heart attack in the previous two weeks. About 90 percent were already receiving all the medicines recommended to prevent a second attack, including aspirin, anti-clotting and cholesterol drugs. After a year, it made no difference whether these patients took fish oil or dummy capsules. [Fish oil pills don't boost benefit of heart drugs Associated Press 3-31-2009] |