Last year, when the independent supplement quality testing lab ConsumerLab.com released its annual survey of the most popular dietary supplements, we weren’t too surprised to learn that fish oil was the winner, nudging multivitamins out of the #1 spot. A whopping 74% of the respondents reported taking fish oil and most of them, 44%, purchased their supplements online.

So why is fish oil first on everyone’s list? Here are just a few reasons:

• Fish Oil provides a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). EPA and DHA are polyunsaturated fats ("good" fats, as opposed to saturated fats which are thought to increase the risk of heart disease). The body can only manufacture limited amounts of EPA and DHA from the essential fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) -- found in flaxseed oil, canola oil, soy oil and walnut oil.
• A large body of scientific research suggests that higher dietary omega-3 fatty acid intakes, like those found in fish oil are supportive of cardiovascular health.  Thus, the American Heart Association recommends that all adults eat fish, particularly oily fish, at least twice weekly or obtain fish oil from supplements.
• Compelling research in other areas suggest that the essential fatty acids in fish may have many other health benefits.
• Studies reveal that doctors not only recommend fish oil to their patients, they take it themselves. The study, published in Nutrition Journal, found 75 percent of dermatologists say they use dietary supplements and 66 percent recommend them to their patients; 57 percent of cardiologists use supplements and 72 percent recommend them to their patients; and 73 percent of orthopedic specialists use supplements and 91 percent recommend them. More than 25 percent of physicians in each specialty said they had used omega-3/fish body oil.
• If you are among those who just don’t like the taste of fish, or are concerned about PCBs, mercury and other possible contaminants present in some fish, then fish oil supplements may be a better choice for you. (Most supplements undergo molecular distillation or other refining process to remove contaminants. Others use only certain species of fish to ensure that the fish oil meets FDA safety standards.)

With so many fish oil supplements on the market, what should you look for in good quality fish oil? ConsumerLab.com provided these insights based on their experience conducting quality tests on supplements for over a decade:

• When buying supplements containing EPA and/or DHA, keep in mind that products vary significantly in terms of the amounts and ratios of EPA and DHA. Be aware that only about a third of the oil from fish is EPA and DHA, although this may be higher (up to about 85% as EPA and DHA) in a "concentrated" product".
• Second, the ratio of EPA to DHA will vary depending on the source. (For example, menhaden and other small oily fish, tend to have a ratio of EPA to DHA of 1.5:1 so that a capsule claiming 1 gram (1,000 mg) of fish oil, of which 30% is EPA and DHA, provides 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA. Salmon oil naturally contains more DHA than EPA (often several times more) and products made only from algal oil will contain only DHA.
• With a more concentrated product, one may be able to take fewer capsules of the same size.
• Many products also contain vitamin E or other antioxidants to stabilize the oils and prevent them from becoming rancid.

How to take fish oil:

• In the U.S., there is no official recommended intake for EPA and DHA in healthy people. However, some other countries recommend from 300 mg to 500 mg per day of a combination of EPA and DHA. This is roughly equivalent, if not greater than, the amount of omega-3 obtained from two servings of fish per week, as suggested by the American Heart Association. You might want to discuss the dosage that is best for you with your healthcare practitioner
•  Fish oils are best tolerated when taken with meals, and, if possible, should be taken in divided doses--divide the dose in half and take twice daily, or in thirds and take three times a day.
• If you dislike the taste of fish oil or have a problem with “fish burps,” consider taking an enteric coated capsule.

Storing fish oil:

• Omega-3 fatty acids can spoil, so it is best to keep products out of heat and light. Once opened, tightly reseal the container. If possible, refrigeration can help prolong freshness and is particularly important with bottled liquids. A slight cloudy appearance of the oil is normal after refrigeration -- just shake the bottle before use. If you use a bottled liquid, purchase a size that you will completely use within a few weeks because once air is introduced into the bottle, spoilage may begin.

About CNCA fish oil:

• CNCA offers three ultra-pure fish oil supplements containing high levels of EPA and DHA: EPAmax lemon flavored fish oil capsules, EPAmax Liquid Fish Oil (lemon flavored), and Omega-3 Max EC enteric coated fish oil capsules. Our Fish Oils contain 50% EPA and DHA in the preferred 3:2 ratio vs. the typical 30%, so our 1200 mg softgels deliver twice the EPA and DHA of typical 1000 mg softgels.
• All formulas contain an antioxidant blend of rosemary leaf extract, ascorbyl palmitate (a fat-soluble form of Vitamin C) and natural tocopherols (Vitamin E and naturally-related compounds) to prevent spoilage.
• To ensure maximum purity and potency, all CNCA fish oil supplements undergo molecular distillation to remove impurities.  Then they are independently tested for Dual Rancidity (Peroxides and Acid Value), Mercury, Lead, Arsenic, Cadmium, EPA and DHA levels, PCBs, Dioxin and Dioxin-like compounds, stability and bacteria, yeast, and mold counts.

Sources:

ConsumerLab.com

UPI.com

ConsumerLab.com

Linus Pauling Institute