Fish and Fish Oil supplements

Importance of fatty acids

Fatty acids are the "building blocks" of fat. These important nutrients are critical for the normal production and functioning of cells, muscles, nerves and organs. They are also required for the production of hormone-like compounds that help regulate blood pressure, heart rate and blood clotting.

The human body is capable of making most of the types of fats it needs from other fats or raw materials but not Omega-3 fatty acids. As such it is labeled an essential fat — fat to derive directly from foods.  Foods high in Omega-3 include seafood, vegetable oils, nuts (especially walnuts), flax seeds, flaxseed oil and leafy vegetables.


Sources of fatty acids

+  Fish is known to be a high-protein, low-fat food and rich in Omega3. Its byproduct, fish oil supplements is also increasingly sought after as can be seen by the proliferation of brands displayed on the shelves of pharmacy stores. Most of the extracts are from oily fish like salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel, trout and herring.

Fish oil contains omega-3s that are distinct from the flax-type omega-3s. The fatty acid molecules are longer and more bent, comprise mainly eicosepentenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These are the fatty acids abundant in organisms adapted to the cold, such as cold-water fish and cold-adapted mammals, because they keep the membranes of cells from becoming too stiff when exposed to frigid conditions. Fish obtains EPA by eating algae that is quite similar to the flax-type omega-3s of plants and eating krills which feed on the algae and metabolize it to create an additional form, DHA fatty acid. Analyzed samples from seven species showed that whilst green algae, such as that which krill feed on contain only EPA, the red and brown species contain both EPA and DHA. It can be a sustainable future alternative source to satisfy the demands of consumers especially among vegetarians.

+  Linoleic acid or ALA found in walnuts and seed oils such as corns, cottonseed, sesame, safflower, sunflower and partially hydrogenated soybean oil is a powerful negative agent which the body synthesizes in response to various stressors. However, the conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA is unreliable. Herbivores and opportunistic omnivores like mice and rats are great at converting ALA to DHA. For humans, most can only convert about 8% of ALA to DHA, the utilization being influenced by different conditions such as fast foods, baked foods, alcohol intake, certain health conditions, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Even if you can convert it, you must take a lot more flaxseed oil than fish oil to achieve the same results. Research shows women are more efficient converters of ALA to EPA than men.

Why need Omega 3?

+  DHA comprises about half of the fatty acids in the brain which are the basic building blocks for nerve tissues and brain cells vital to reduce symptoms of mental diseases. The myelin sheath (casing the nerve tissue) at its critical formation period of an infant should be provided sufficient insulated material or develop into a weakened nerve structure, resulting in multiple sclerosis or viral infection later. A baby's brain is 80% developed by the third year and weighed three times more. Deficiency has been associated with cognitive problems including reasoning ability and lack of attention (ADHD) in children during the formative years. In adults, it manifests in a host of problems, including neuro-degenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease and severity of multiple sclerosis.


+   DHA is naturally concentrated in the retina of the eye. For this reason, it is found in maternal breast milk and also are added to some supplemented infant formulas to stimulate vision development in infants. As for adults, it may help protect adult eyes from macular degeneration and dry eye syndrome. Essential fatty acids also may help proper drainage of intraocular fluid from the eye, decreasing the risk of high eye pressure and glaucoma.


+  Proper function of our inflammatory system depends on the presence of messaging molecules called prostaglandins - of which most are derived from EPA. If this essential fatty acid is taken over a prolonged period of time it may have the potency of thousand of times of aspirin in stopping inflammatory reactions responsible for arthritis, migraines, colitis and other similar ailments.


+  There is good evidence that diets high in omega-3 fatty acids help with rheumatoid arthritis as well as osteoarthritis in reducing inflammatory pain.


+  Many studies have shown it can reduce risk of heart attacks, strokes and death from heart disease by lowering blood pressure and heart rate, improving blood vessel function, and at higher doses, lowering triglycerides and easing inflammation, which contributes to the development of atherosclerosis.

+  Repeated studies show that the fatty acids in oily fish - EPA and DHA can significantly reduce intestinal inflammation, cramping and belly pain as in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

+  Omega3 taken into the body provides an avenue to detect any abnormal cancer growth and signals our immune system to prepare a launched attack against external invaders.

However, before getting the next bottle of fish oil, examine the content and question the source or origin. This is because the quality as well as potency can vary considerably.

Safe to consume fish oil supplements?

+ Several studies have shown that some fish oil supplements contain unsafe levels of environmental pollutants such as dioxins, and heavy metals like arsenic, copper, lead and mercury. There was an occasion a popular cod liver oil supplement maker Seven Seas had to remove 2 of its products off the shelves in Singapore after found to contain impurities called dioxins exceeding the limits set up the European Union. Though dioxins is present everywhere in the air, soil, water and food, the cumulative effect of consuming it over a prolonged period of time can lead to cancer.

+ As deep-sea fishing is impossible to meet the ever-increasing demand for fish, large-scale commercial rearing is the next best alternative with the help of genetic engineering technique to boost productivity. Salmon is the most commonly eaten fish known to be good for the skin and heart. However, farmed salmon contains significantly higher levels of dioxins and 16 times the PCBs found in wild salmon. PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, is a toxin used as coolant and lubricant in transformers. This substance was banned in the US since 1979 as an environmental pollutant but used subsequently as animal fat instead. Not to mention the amount of hormones and antibiotics used to enjoy bumper harvest.

Note that cod liver oil derived from the livers of cod fish as opposed to fish oil from the entire body of the fish, usually contains high level of PCBs. This is so because the liver processes toxins and may not be able to rid the contaminants even after purification process. Also, large predatory fish and fish that have longer lifespan (eg.cod) accumulate a greater amount of toxins than small, short-lived fish. A lawsuit filed in 2010 identified 10 fish or cod liver oil products that allegedly contain dangerous levels of PCBs.

+ Mercury contamination is another major concern on prolonged basis. There is no barrier that prohibits mercury from being deposited in the pain centre of the brain and central nervous system, causing a jam for nutrients to enter and wastes to clear from these affected areas. It can also bind to immune cells, distorting and interfering with normal immune responses which may be one factor behind auto-immune disorder. In the worst scenario, it can lead to kidney, cardiac and respiratory failure. Many environmental and food allergies may be attributable to mercury poisoning. Mercury exposure in pregnant women can cause neurological damage, such as lowered intelligence and delayed development in infants.

Choice between the two?

(1) Fish seems to be a better food choice for the elderly and post-menopausal women than the general population given the need to balance the risks and benefits of eating fish. In general, consumers have to be vigilant about the type of fish to take and the source derived from. To rid the chemical pollutants, grilling, broiling or steaming allows fats to drain away and avoid deep frying. Another precaution is not to eat the same type of fish more than a week. Another alternative is to switch to other seafood for good proteins and fatty acids.

(2) In fact, a good fish oil supplement can provide the solution to sourcing for needed Omega 3. A reputable producer of supplements can expect to deliver superior contents with less contaminants. Techniques employed can be stringent control test done on incoming materials and molecular distillation use pressure and temperature to remove environmental pollutants. Health Authority usually require supplements to comply with safety standards, including toxicity levels of metals, prohibition of toxic substances controlled under the Poison Act. Most regulators stipulate a level of purity but standards can vary much with the European Union standards being the most stringent.

How to select a good brand?

+ As mentioned above, get from a credible manufacturer. A product with poor ingredients or not properly purified can cause diarrhoea and other minor discomfort.

+ Examine the level of fatty acids, which determines the effectiveness of health application. Most products in the market offer 1000 mg comprising 180 mg EPA and 120 DHA (per soft-gel capsule), totaling 300 mg of Omega 3 not 1000. Cod liver oil generally contains about 10% EPA and DHA. Concentrated fish oil has as much as 60% EPA and DHA.

+ Also examine the other ingredients such as vitamin A and D in cod liver oil and vitamin E in fish oil. Vitamin A and D are fat-soluble and can harm the body if taken excessively. Vitamin E is added to prevent lipid peroxidation and intoxication. A brand using only fish oil from the skins and heads, with no fish liver oil is a more worthy choice.


How to preserve fish oil?

All Fish oil products are subject to become rancid quickly. Omega-3 fatty acids are very susceptible to free radical damage caused by light, oxygen or heat. Oxidative process limits their shelf life and their ability to provide you with the nourishment you need. This is why you should never buy bottles containing thousands of fish oil capsules. Each time you open the bottle and let oxygen in, there is interaction with the capsule. By the time you get to the last half of that big bottle, the quality of that fish oil product is compromised. Fish oil should be kept in the refrigerator to help prevent rancidity as well. Often fish oil bottles are kept in storage for months or weeks until sold. Thus, some of these products are already rancid before you take them home. The rancidity factor is one of the main problems in cheap supplements. It pays to buy fish oil capsules in smaller quantity bottles. Make sure the label declares it has been tested for mercury, toxins and other heavy metal poisoning or do not buy.


Word of caution


Omega-3 supplements (DHA/EPA) can make bleeding more likely. If you have a bleeding condition -- or take medicines that could increase bleeding, like Coumadin, Plavix, Effient, Brilinta, and some NSAIDs -- talk to a doctor before using any omega-3 supplements.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5426884/the_differences_between_fish_oil_flaxseed_pg3.html?cat=5, Mind your Body, Prescription to Natural Healing

VIVA corner

Each soft-gel capsule of VIVA Omega 3 contains highly concentrated EPA (350mg) and DHA (250mg) derived from deep-sea fish oil in a more absorbable triglyceride form (3 times more absorbable than a non-triglyceride form. For this improved technology, this product received the Taiwan Nutritional Biotechnology & Medical Care Quality Award in Year 2003. Stringent quality control imposed by company ensures that the fish supplies contain minimal contaminants at all times.

VIVA LIPOGUARD contains 600 mg of fish oil per soft-gel capsule with EPA 180 mg and DHA 120 mg, and together with garlic juice and Vitamin E makes an unique powerful formulation processed under low temperature to preserve the potency of allicin to improve blood lipid profile and keep the blood vessels in good condition. It receives the highest acclaimed Quality Award 2000 by the Taiwan government.