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Fish oil supplements and PCBs. Should you worry? Part 1
Are you a skydiver who constantly worries about getting hit by lighting? If you are, then you will relate to the recent lawsuit in California about PCBs in fish oil supplements. People are scared. Because TV said the words 'lawsuit', 'fish oil pills', and 'PCBs'. The lawsuit DOES NOT claim that all fish oil supplements are unsafe. Or that fish oil pills contain higher-than-approved levels of PCBs. They don’t. What the law says... California’s super-strict Prop 65 sets PCB standards for two things: Carcinogenic activity of PCBs Reproductive toxicity of PCBs (Yes, those are scary words to read.) There is an established level for carcinogenic activity. But there is no level established for reproductive toxicity. What the lawyers are saying... What the lawsuit claims is that in the absence of a reproductive toxicity level, if you have any detectable level of PCBs in a fish oil supplement, then the product should carry a warning on the label. That’s the main ‘beef’ of the lawsuit. What the scientists are saying... The State of California is reviewing a laundry list of chemicals to see how big the risks of each are. There are lots of way to set reproductive toxicity limits. And there are lots of chemicals that can harm a fetus. But the scientists in California have decided that setting a reproductive toxicity level for PCB is an extremely low priority. In other words, there are more dangerous chemicals that they (and we) need to be concerned with. It’s like worrying about a large earthquake when you’re driving 100 miles per hour on a busy freeway. It’s not the earthquake that’ll get you. Also, the levels of PCBs that were found in the products mentioned in the lawsuit are a LOT LESS than what is found in regular foods in your grocery store. The FDA did a survey of common foods. Most commonly consumed foods have levels of PCBs that are dozens or hundreds of times higher than what is found in fish oil. So this is not an issue of safety. Frost & Sullivan released a report recently that showed that 93% of all fish oil comes from anchovy and sardines. The rest from menhaden, whiting, pollock and hoki. These are small, short-lived fish that eat algae. They are not alive long enough to accumulate environmental toxins. But the lawsuit did not test these fish oils. They went for cod liver oil. Yup. Your grandma’s fish oil. Cod is a big fish. It lives a long time and picks up a lot of toxins along the way. Same for Salmon and Tuna. Remember, cod liver oil is not the same as fish oil found in fish oil supplements. In part 2, we will try to put things in context by comparing the amount of PCB in fish oil pills versus foods that we all regularly purchase and consume. Read Part 2 here.
Flaxseed Oil vs Fish Oil
Which is better? Fish oil is better. Much better. Here's why... Flaxseed oil is right for you only if… You are a vegetarian You are vegan You are allergic to fish Otherwise, there is no health advantage to taking flaxseed oil. Flaxseed oil is popular because it is cheap, comes from a plant and has a lot of Omega-3. It contains an Omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Many plants and nuts including walnuts and hempseed also contain ALA. Omega-3 from Flax is not the same as the Omega-3 from fish. The problem with Flaxseed oil Yes, there is Omega-3 in Flaxseed oil. But the human body cannot efficiently use the kind of Omega-3 found in Flax (ALA). EPA and DHA are the Omega-3 found in fish and fish oil supplements. This is what your body really needs. Your body easily uses the Omega-3 from fish oil. With Flax, your body has to convert ALA to usable EPA before it can be used. But this conversion is difficult, slow, incomplete and complicated. Flaxseed Oil vs Fish Oil - the DHA problem Flaxseed oil cannot be converted to DHA at all. DHA from fish oil is crucial for brain and eye health. Teenage girls can convert Flax ALA to usable Omega-3 the best. As women get older, their bodies become unable to use flaxseed oil. Boys and men’s bodies simply cannot use Flaxseed oil. If you are pregnant, your baby NEEDS DHA to develop healthy brain and eyes. Flaxseed oil will not give you enough DHA during pregnancy. Please, please switch to a high-DHA formula! If you are older than 30, then only about 5 - 10% of the Flaxseed oil is converted to usable Omega-3. Many scientists have independently come to this verdict. This means you have to take a dozen or more flaxseed oil pills to equal the benefit of one ultra-concentrated fish oil pill. That’s right. Flaxseed oil vs Fish Oil Flaxseed oil is not completely useless. If you take daily handfuls, may be 6 Flax pills in the morning and 6 at night, you will feel the same benefits as one fish oil pill. Is it worth it? Only if you are a strict vegetarian. How eating cookies and chips makes flaxseed oil useless Most people cannot benefit from Flax oil: Trans-fats found in chips, cookies, cakes, margarine, and most processed foods will stop your body from converting the ALA in flax to usable EPA. Eating too much Omega-6 from corn oil can also put the brakes on this conversion. Most Americans eat about 20 times too much Omega-6. Eating sugary candy or drinking alcohol can prevent your body from using flaxseed oil. Same thing happens with deficiencies in B-vitamins, magnesium or zinc. 6 out of 10 Americans are deficient magnesium. If you are diabetic, have high blood pressure or are overweight, then your body cannot use flaxseed oil. If you are male or over the age of 30, then your body cannot use flaxseed oil well. The list above covers just about all of us. Why do all these things affect the benefits of flaxseed oil? Well, because it takes up to 7 complex enzymatic steps to convert ALA into usable EPA and DHA. Why force your body to do all that if fish oil supplements already provide a usable Omega-3? Unless you are a vegan, there is no reason to take flaxseed oil for Omega-3. However, we love whole flax seeds. They are super healthy. They taste nutty and are perfect for sprinkling into salads and cereals. You are much better off taking a ultra-concentrated fish oil supplement. ‘Pharmaceutical grade or ultra-concentrated’ means it is highly purified and has more than 85% usable forms of Omega-3 from fish. This means you feel benefits with fewer pills. Regular store brand fish oils have only about 20 to 30% Omega-3. What Scientists and Doctors have to say about Flaxseed Oil vs Fish Oil What Scientists and Doctors have to say about Flaxseed oil vs fish oil There are several published research papers about the inability of flaxseed oil (ALA) to provide benefits. Here are a few quotes from the experts: Columbia University Department of Pediatrics: “ALA has no or only weak beneficial effects on diminishing the risk of cardiovascular disease.” British Journal Atherosclerosis: “Fish oil produced predictable changes in cardiovascular risk, but were not reproduced with ALA from Flaxseed oil.” - Volume 181, Issue 1, July 2005, Pages 115-124 Columbia University Department of Pediatrics: “(ALA), is generally far less effective at inducing biological effects, in part because of its inefficient conversion to EPA and DHA in humans. Thus, maximal effects of Omega-3 depend on the delivery of EPA and DHA rather than of ALA.” Tufts-New England Medical Center: “Evidence suggests that increased consumption of Omega-3 from fish or fish-oil supplements, but not of alpha-linolenic acid (flax), reduces the rates of all-cause mortality, cardiac and sudden death, and possibly stroke.” Tufts-New England Medical Center: “Omega-3 Fatty acids from fish or fish-oil supplements, but not -linolenic acid, benefit cardiovascular disease.” Cornell University: “Studies generally agree that whole body conversion of ALA (Flax) to DHA is below 5% in humans.”- Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2002 Mar; 5(2): 127-32. Hoffmann-Roche: “Conversion is approximately 6% for EPA and 3.8% for DHA. With a diet rich in Omega-6, conversion is reduced further by 40 to 50%.” - Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1998; 68(3): 159-73. University of Guelph: “Thirty adults with ADHD were given 12 weeks of supplementation with olive oil, flax oil or fish oil. The data suggest that in order to increase levels of EPA and DHA in adults with ADHD high dose fish oil may be preferable to high dose flax oil.” - Reprod Nutr Dev. 2005 Sep-Oct; 45(5): 549-58.
Fish Oil & Brain Health
Sharpen Your Mind Randall McCloy Jr. was the only survivor of the 2006 Sago mine collapse. When the rescuers found him in the rubble, he had brain, heart, liver and kidney failure. He was barely clinging to life. After he was transported to West Virginia School of Medicine, one of the first things the hospital neurosurgeons did was tube-feed him very large doses of fish oil. Mr. McCloy has since made a remarkable recovery. "I certainly think it played a big role," said Dr. Julian Bailes, Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery. "How can he rebuild his brain, if he doesn't have the substrate to do it?" Learn More Omega-3 is the building block of the brain. So the brain has a voracious appetite for Omega-3 and other nutrients. Have you ever skipped a meal and felt light-headed? Well, that's your brain asking for glucose. Your brain is like a muscle. To keep it toned, you need to do two things to it: Feed it Exercise it (think crossword puzzles and learning new languages) The brain is only 2% of your total body weight, but it can use up to a third of the energy from what you eat. So it is the first to suffer when you eat junk food or eat trans-fats. Sixty percent of a healthy brain is Omega fats. Omega-3 helps the transport of nutrients and "happy chemicals" (prostaglandins and neurotransmitters) like serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Omega-3 also laces or lines nerves. And since the brain is the center of the nervous system, it has a large and constant need for Omega-3. So what happens when you don't have enough Omega-3? The brain replaces or "makes do" with whatever type of fat is available. Usually, the brain (and the rest of the body for that matter) uses Omega-6 or trans-fat if that is what is available. Some scientists use a lock-and-key analogy to explain how Omega-3 helps nerve cells in the brain. Imagine there is an Omega-3 lock and an Omega-3 key. They belong together. An Omega-3 lock cannot be opened with any other key. So if there is not enough Omega-3 available, many parts of the brain simply stops working like they should. Bottom line: Not enough Omega-3 translates to a poorly working brain!
Fish Oil and Joint Health
Comfort Your Joints with Omega-3 We hear this all the time: "My doctor told me to start taking fish oil. I thought it was for my heart. Not only did my heart condition improve but my joints have never felt better. So I'll continue taking it." Omega-3 can: Help soothe joint tenderness* Help reduces enzymes that harm cartilage* Help increases grip strength* Enhances walking pace* Science Corner Omega-3 reduces the amount of Arachidonic Acid available for Eicosanoids - Prostaglandins and Leukotrienes and cytokines Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha, Interleukin-1 and Interleukin-6. This means less joint irritating compounds. Eating more Omega-6 than Omega-3 causes reverses that effect. Omega-6 fats are found in corn, sunflower, canola, soybean and cottonseed oil and are found in many snacks, processed foods, fried foods and margarine. The grocery store snack aisle is full of Omega-6. Yes, Omega-6 are essential, but too much of a good thing leads to joint discomfort. Fortunately, Omega-3 from fish oil is a natural soothing agent that reduces joint irritating compounds. Especially, the EPA Omega-3. 10,000 Times Stronger Scientists have shown that Omega-3 helps support joint comfort. But they are just beginning to understand how this happens. Dr. Charles Serhan of Harvard Medical School reports that the body converts Omega-3 into joint-protective compounds 10,000 times stronger than the original Omega-3. These newly discovered compounds are called Resolvins. Resolvins work by naturally slowing or stopping the production and transport of pain-causing chemicals to your joints. Minor Diet Changes Make a BIG Difference Taking fish oil supplements is not the only answer. You will need a diet makeover: Less sugars, less starches and less wheat (yes, less of even "healthy" whole grain wheat!) Completely cut out vegetable oils made from corn, soy, sunflower and safflower. Use olive or coconut oils instead. And importantly, talk to your doctor about any discomfort in your joints. What About Glucosamine and Chondroitin? Glucosamine and Chondroitin are popular arthritis and joint care supplements. They both have been clinically proven to help rebuild worn out joint tissue. But they don't reduce pain quickly because they don't reduce inflammation. Rebuilding cartilage is very important, so for best effect, take Glucosamine and Chondroitin with Omega-3. * When used as part of a healthy diet and exercise program. 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. OmegaVia and its logo are registered trademarks of Innovix Pharma Inc.
Fish Oil & Heart Health*
Omega-3 and Heart Health It was 1970. Jorn Dyerberg, Hans Olaf Bang and Aase Brondum Nielsen arrived in Greenland knowing that very few Greenlanders had poor heart health. It didn't make sense. After all, Greenland Inuits ate a poor diet with insufficient fruits and vegetables. And they ate a lot of fat. When they tested the blood samples of 130 Inuit, everything was normal. Except for one thing. They found very high levels of "polyunsaturated fatty acids, EPA and DHA." EPA and DHA are Omega-3 found in fish. They concluded that the healthy hearts could be from the Omega-3 fats that the Inuit ate in abundance.* The science of Omega-3 was born. Today, Dr. Jorn Dyerberg is considered the "father" of Omega-3. "I have done some computing," said Dr. Dyerberg in a recent interview with the online nutrition blog, Nutra Ingredients, "and since we published the first paper in 1971 there are now some 14,000 published papers on Omega-3, including close to 8,000 human studies." "The most pressing issue for the 21st Century is nutrition problems linked to diet. In that aspect, omega-3 will play a major role," said Dr. Dyerberg. 14,000 studies and Counting A majority of the 14,000 published papers have focused on heart health. Research shows that Omega-3s: Help support healthy heart rhythm* Manage healthy triglyceride levels* Help support healthy blood vessels* Manage healthy blood pressure (slightly)* *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. Omega-3 helps everyone's hearts - the healthy or not. Almost every nutrition and scientific organization recommends that you eat fatty fish or take Omega-3 supplements to support heart health. The American Heart Association recommends 1000 mg of Omega-3 per day. OmegaVia provides - 1105 mg of Omega-3 in just one softgel. * When used as part of a healthy diet that is high in vegetables, seafood, and fiber along with an exercise program. 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. OmegaVia and its logo are registered trademarks of Innovix Pharma Inc.
Why You Need Omega-3
A Quick Introduction to a Very Important Nutrient 9 out of 10 Americans don't eat enough Omega-3. Not enough Omega-3 may cause several serious deficiency symptoms and reduce the efficiency with which your body runs. There are a few Omega-3 fats. The two important ones are EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid). They are found in seafood and needed and used by every cell in your brain, eyes, blood vessels and joints. 60% of your brain is Omega-3 More than 75% of your retina is Omega-3 Nutrition Gap Between Typical American Diet and Recommended Intake of Omega-3 Click image for larger view Omega 3 fatty acids can only be found in foods. According to the American Heart Association, fish is the best source of Omega 3 fats because it has the most EPA and DHA. Some nuts and seeds also contain Omega-3 but nuts and seeds do not contain EPA and DHA. Your body also needs Omega-6, another good fat, but it needs Omega-3 and Omega-6 in equal parts. But industrial mass-production of foods has removed most of the Omega-3 from our food supply. So now, most of us eat 25 times more Omega-6 than Omega-3, resulting in a severe Omega-3 deficiency. Most Americans only get about 10% of the Omega-3 needed by the body Deficiency symptoms are vague and are often not diagnosed. This is because other deficiencies and illnesses have similar symptoms. Symptoms of severe Omega-3 deficiency include: Fatigue Dry skin Small bumps on back of upper arms Brittle nails and hair Irritability Joint discomfort Dry eyes In its official recommendation, the American Heart Association advises that it may not be possible to get enough Omega-3 from diet alone, so people are encouraged to talk to their doctors about taking fish oil supplements. Our foods no longer have adequate levels of Omega-3. The chart below shows what we get from our diet and what is needed (the nutrition gap). OmegaVia was formulated to provide you the exact amount of Omega-3 recommended by the American Heart Association. Taking OmegaVia is the easiest and fastest way to: Protect your heart Comfort your joints Nourish your brain Lift your mood Soften your skin * 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.