You may have come across the famous statement from the American Heart Association that says, “Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart of healthy people and people at high risk of, or who have, cardiovascular disease since it was published the scientific statement in 2002. The market just went crazy with thousands of fish oil supplements claiming to be the best.As a consumer, the key question is how to decide on the right fish oil supplement that would actually help you reduce the risk of heart disease.
If you’re like most people, you’d look for convenience: can I go to Sam’s Club or Walmart and buy a 6-month supply of some fish oil supplement? I started looking for fish oils based on the American Heart Association’s recommendation of at least 1 gram of EPA + DHA (the two most common omega-3 fatty acids in fish) per serving. To my surprise, I checked all the bottles at the major chain stores and found nothing that met the requirements. Right there I had to take a step back and educate myself much more.
I made a list of the requirements to choose a suitable fish oil supplement. First of all, I was looking for transparency. If someone advertised secret formula or proprietary formula, this was an indication for me to stay away from them. There are many of these on the market where the ingredient label will simply say “Marine Lipid Extract” with no further details. I made it a point to stay away from these.
I started looking for reputable organizations that were independent of vendors to inform me. I came across some reputable non-profit organizations that are willing to help educate consumers. One such organization is the DHA/EPA Omega-3 Institute led by Dr. Holub, professor emeritus in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph. He is an expert in the field with his research program focused on dietary omega-3 fatty acids from fish/fish oils, vegetable oils, and resulting nutraceuticals plus functional foods for human health and the prevention/management of cardiovascular and other diseases. chronic disorders. He can ask questions on his website and get reliable answers from experts.
Another valuable resource is the International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS). IFOS is a global program that provides a service to consumers and industry groups promoting the use of omega-3 products in all countries of the world. As a trusted source for third-party validation, the IFOS program tests for the omega-3 supplement industry and reports findings following a classification system for fish oils and cod liver oils. IFOS, through Nutrasource Diagnostics Inc. (NDI, with its certified and accredited reference laboratory partners) tests ready-to-consumer fish oil products presented by the manufacturer.
Finally, it’s worth looking at reviews from ConsumerLab, which is an independent testing lab that tests most national brands of health supplements. I purchased your 2008 report for the Omega-3 Fatty Acids/Fish Oils Supplement Guide and it lists the best omega-3 fish oils here with clear rankings for purity, strength, and freshness (oxidation levels).
Based on my research, any fish oil supplement you choose should meet the following criteria:
Transparency and truthfulness in labeling: The label must clearly specify the nutritional information. The amounts of EPA and DHA must be explicitly specified. The ingredients must specifically state the type of fish used to extract the oil. Commonly used fish includes anchovies, sardines, salmon, etc.
manufacturing process: It is not necessary to be a scientist to distinguish the manufacturing process. Search for molecular distillation as a very important keyword. In addition to the process itself, look for the specifications of the manufacturing facility. For a product to be labeled pharmaceutical grade, manufacturing must occur in what is known as a GMP facility, the same type of facility used to manufacture prescription drugs with strict quality controls. Therefore, having a “pharmaceutical grade” and “molecularly distilled” product is very important. Products made close to the source of the fish generally tend to capture the most freshness. For maximum absorption, the natural triglyceride form (the form of most fats we normally eat) is ideal.
International standards: We talk a lot about standards. Standards are set to protect consumers. Fish oil quality standards do not exist in the United States. However, we can look to standards set by other nations, such as the strict Norwegian Medical Standard (NMS) and the European Pharmacopoeia Standard (EPS), which guarantee quality products by setting maximum limits for peroxides, heavy metals, dioxins, furans and PCBs.
Mentions and awards: Fish oil is so common that we can easily identify the market leaders and reputable companies that have won internationally recognizable awards are recommended. These could be awards given for ConsumerLab ratings, awards for socially responsible companies, awards for environmental responsibility, or even direct endorsements from non-profit organizations like the American Heart or American Pregnancy Associations.
Omega-3 Research: It is also helpful to see which brand is commonly used in all the various clinical trials by various research (academic) institutions to study the benefits of fish oils so you know this is a reliable company/brand trusted by researchers. and doctors. I like it.
Don’t break the bank: As a final note, you don’t want to spend a fortune. Something that costs no more than $10 – $20 per month (or a maximum of $20 – $30 per month for concentrates) is a reasonable price to pay for a product that meets all of these requirements.