Something's fishy.

In addition to prescription medications, one of a pharmacists most important jobs is to steer people to the right over the counter vitamins and supplements. At times, this can be a difficult task because there are so many different varieties to choose from. Fish oil is one of the most commonly asked about products. Most people have heard about the potential benefits of fish oil supplements, but which specific product is the “best”? Here are the basics on fish oil supplementation.

When people talk about fish oil supplements, they are really interested in the DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids. A person could get these from flax seed, walnuts, and of course fish but usually supplementing with a fish oil capsule is the less expensive and more practical solution.  I did the math and fish oil supplementation is far less expensive than sushi supplementation (say that five times fast). 

The most common fish oil is 1,000mg

Fish oil supplements have many potential benefits for people. People concerned about heart health take them to help reduce blood pressure, slow development of plaque in arteries, and overall reduction of heart attack and stroke. Another potential benefit is eye health and to help with macular degeneration. Benefits have also been seen in asthma, diabetes, movement disorders, obesity, kidney disease, psoriasis, and osteoporosis.

40 year old Cod Liver Bottles

The most studied (and scientifically proven) benefit of fish oil is to help lower triglycerides, one of the factors that impact cholesterol. In fact, there is a prescription version of fish oil used for this very reason. This highly purified form may mean less capsules per day, but it is very expensive. The good news is that the generic version of the medication is now available. We can expect the price to decrease over the upcoming months.

There are thousands of different non-prescription fish oil supplements from which to choose. The one that will work best for you depends a lot on personal preference. The standard fish oil capsule is 1,000mg. A lot of companies also make 1,200mg. If you have difficulty swallowing large pills, there are also smaller, lower strength choices.

Besides size, one of the common complaints about fish oil is the “fishy aftertaste/burps”. Because of this, there are many enteric coated products. This means that the capsules do not dissolve until further along the digestive tract to prevent this. People also say that keeping the capsules in the freezer can also help.

Krill Oil (red capsules) vs regular fish oil

A high tech version of fish oil is krill oil. Krill oil is attached to phospholipids that mimic the ones in our body, making it more easily absorbed as compared to traditional fish oil. Because of this, a person should not have the same fishy aftertaste or fishy burps. Another advantage of the increased absorption is that the pills are smaller. However, these benefits come at a price. The average bottle of krill oil costs about three times as much as a fish oil product. Still, they may be the perfect choice for some people.

So, what is the correct product to choose? If money is no object, then go ahead and try the krill oil capsules. For everyone else, I suggest trying the regular 1,000mg capsules. If you get the fishy aftertaste, first try freezing the capsules. If that does not work, bump up to the enteric coated fish oil capsules.

With any vitamin, supplement, or prescription, there are dangers and interactions that must be addressed. Be sure to talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting anything new.