Fish Oil: With Food or Empty Stomach?

fish oil empty stomach full stomach

Should you eat fish oil pills with meals or on an empty stomach? Which is better?

Quick quiz:

Which of these foods help increase fish oil absorption?
  1. Fat-free yogurt and glass of orange juice
  2. Breakfast cereal with skim milk
  3. Scrambled eggs and bacon
  4. Fruit cup with granola
The answer is: scrambled eggs and bacon. Surprised? Eating fish oil supplements with meals that contain fat is preferable for absorption. More of the Omega-3 gets into your 'system' and more stays there over time when you eat your fish oil pills with food. Some foods helps absorption better than others. The fat present in your food trigger the release of Omega-3 digesting enzymes, which help get Omega-3 into cells, where they go to work.*
'Waitaminit!' you say, 'It's eating fat that got me into all this trouble in the first place! Now you tell me to eat more fat so the fish oil can get absorbed? You're nuts!'
Umm, may be, I am a little nuts. But it's hard to argue with facts. And the facts say, no, it's not the fats that got you into trouble. It's the juices, sodas, donuts, beer, bagel, chips, whole wheat bread and pasta. What's nuts is that most doctors won't tell you this! Besides, you don't have to eat any of that scary fats like trans fat or Omega-6-rich oils like corn oil or soy bean (vegetable) oils or canola oil. If you're afraid of fats, just stick with olive oil. And pour it on generously. Olive oil is a fat that most people, even nutritionists and doctors, can agree on. So go ahead, be generous with olive oil. Don't be afraid of fat - not all fats are bad for you. The right kind of fat (and fewer donuts) would have kept you out of trouble. The oils in your foods will help the fish oil get absorbed better, especially EPA Omega-3, the primary component in OmegaVia. EPA absorption is dependent on the amount of oils and fats. DHA is a tiny bit less so. While all this applies to most fish oil, OmegaVia products, fortunately, is in a form (called rTG form Omega-3) that does not require fat to be properly absorbed.

What About Different Types of Fish Oil?

Occasionally, you'll hear fish oil marketers say 'Ours is the best because it is the best absorbed triglyceride form.' They are partially correct. Ethyl ester form of fish oil need to be taken with foods. Triglcyeride (rTG), phospholipid, monoglyceride form do not require you to eat foods to aid absorption.* Just keep it simple: find an Ultra-concentrated fish oil pill with the most Omega-3 you can afford and eat with with a healthy, fatty meal. And you're done.   Oh, in case science nerds are preparing to shoot me hate mail, yes, EPA and DHA Omega-3 are also absorbed preduodenally and via the portal vein to the liver. And these absorption routes are not mutually exclusive. So there! Whew! *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.