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Purified fish oil supplements are a popular way to consume omega-3 fatty acids without consuming high levels of mercury found in fish. Studies show that purified fish oil supplements are safer than consuming fish and have benefits such as lowering cholesterol, reducing blood pressure, and improving brain function.
Purified fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is one of the main components of a healthy diet. Fish accumulate omega-3 fatty acids through the consumption of certain algae or other fish. In fact, the higher a particular fish is on the food chain, the higher the levels of omega-3 fatty acids will be. However, those same fish can also accumulate toxic levels of mercury, which can be harmful to humans. Consequently, purified fish oil supplements, especially those tested for mercury, have become increasingly popular for people who want to get enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diet without consuming large amounts of fish.
Before delving into the benefits of purified fish oil, it should be mentioned that fish oil supplements have been criticized in the past. There was growing concern about certain brands of fish oil having high levels of mercury and dioxin contamination. As a result, the International Standards for Fish Oil were created to review the process of extracting oils from fish. The purification process has been improved to reduce and remove toxic materials from the fish oils so that they fall below established limits for consumption.
Every year new studies come to light indicating the importance of consuming fish oil and specifically capsules and soft gel supplements. A recent study published in January 2009 in the Journal of Food Science, titled Persistent Organic Contaminants in Fish Oil Supplements in the Canadian Market: Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Organochlorine Insecticides, examined more than thirty fish oil supplements sold in Canada during a period of three years. period. The study found that all fish oil supplements had certain levels of substances that cause carcinogenicity and immunotoxicity, but the levels were considered acceptable for human consumption. More importantly, the study showed that purified fish oil supplements were actually safer than consuming the fish itself.
Other studies have shown that the benefits of enhancing the diet with fish oil are endless. For example, fish oil supplements may be beneficial in treating depression, especially when used in conjunction with a prescription antidepressant medication. This may be because the fatty acids found in purified fish oil are important for proper brain function. Also, research has hinted that those who suffer from depression may have low levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), but EPA is found in fish oil.
A preliminary study suggested that when pregnant women took fish oil supplements during pregnancy, their children had higher-than-average hand-eye coordination at the age of 2 1/2 than those children whose mothers did not take the supplements while pregnant. . It is important to find a purified fish oil supplement that has been tested for mercury, as it can be harmful if consumed during pregnancy. As a result of fears of mercury toxicity, fish oil supplements are not routinely prescribed during pregnancy.
One of the most common uses for purified fish oil is to lower cholesterol levels. It can also lower blood pressure and decrease the chance of blood clots. Many people who have had a heart attack take fish oil supplements to reduce the chance of sudden death. Fish itself has many beneficial qualities if consumed with meals, but for those who can’t stomach high-fat fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, herring, lake trout, or mackerel, a fish oil supplement is the perfect option. In fact, an Italian study found that if a large amount of purified fish oil was given after a heart attack, the chance of having another heart attack after three years was reduced by 20%, and those given the supplement before bypass surgery had a lower risk of arrhythmia and less time in intensive care.
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