Why Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil is Better
Why ‘Triple Strength’ Fish Oil sounds great…but won’t reduce your triglycerides.
What’s the most number of fish oil pills you’re willing to take?
One pill a day?
Two pills?
Five?
A dozen?
Most people draw the line at 2 or 3 pills a day. Very few of us take only fish oil pills – there are other supplements and Rx medicines to take. At some point, all these pills become a meal in themselves. That gets old.
Omega-3 & Triglycerides
The clinically recommended dosage to reduce triglycerides is 3,000 to 4,000 mg of Omega-3 per day. It’s impossible to get that much Omega-3 into one pill – it would be the size of a hot dog!
So we break up the doses into smaller pills.
With Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil
If a pill had 1000 mg of Omega-3, like OmegaVia or one of the popular Triple Strength fish oils, you’d need 3 pills a day to get 3,000 mg of Omega-3. Simple math.
With Regular Fish Oil
But what if you took a Walgreens or Walmart brand fish oil that had 300 mg of Omega-3 per pill? The math is not as simple, but you’d need 10 pills a day to get a handle on your triglycerides.
But there is another ‘handle’ you’d have to worry about – your ‘love handle.’ Ten fish oil pills can carry a hefty calorie load – it can have almost as many calories as a Snickers bar.
A recent European study looked at this issue and concluded that ‘low concentration makes [regular] fish oil products impractical for therapeutic use.’
But the Walmart brand is cheaper, you say. And as long as I get 3,000 mg of Omega-3 into my body, I should feel the benefits. Right? You’re right, you should.
But do you?
This Norwegian study looked at the Omega-3 uptake of three different Omega-3 concentrations:
- 62% Omega-3 (often sold as ‘Triple Strength’)
- 80% Omega-3
- 85% Omega-3
They did not test the regular ‘drug store grade’ fish oil (30% Omega-3) because it was ‘impractical’ to expect anyone to take 10 pills a day.
Every patient in the study took 5,100 mg (5.1 grams) of Omega-3 per day, except they took three different concentrations of ‘pharmaceutical grade’ fish oils. You could argue that 62% Omega-3 is not pharmaceutical grade. But it’s fair to say that 80% and 85% are.
Here are the revealing results:
- There was a significant increase in blood EPA Omega-3 levels after just 14 days.
- The increase was much higher in those taking the 85% pure oil, compare to those taking 62% or 80% oils.
- DHA Omega-3 levels in the blood were not different between the three grades of fish oil.
- The 62% pure oil did not lower triglycerides. Only the 80% and 85% Omega-3 fish oil did.
The fourth and last result is VERY IMPORTANT!
RESULT: Even though everyone took the same amount of Omega-3, the chart below shows that 80% and 85% oils were better ‘absorbed.’
This is why it’s critical to take prescription Omega-3 like Lovaza or pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplements that provide at least 80% Omega-3 concentrations.
‘Triple Strength’ Still Ineffective for Triglycerides
It’s also very important to note that most fish oil supplements that are marketed as ‘pharmaceutical grade fish oil’ or ‘Triple Strength’ are only 60% Omega-3.
RESULT: Percent change in Triglycerides after taking 62%, 80% and 85% Omega-3 fish oil.
‘Triple Strength’ Fish Oil reduced triglycerides by less than 5% after two weeks. 80% and 85% Omega-3 oils reduced triglycerides by about 20%.
Since the FDA does not regulate the terms like ‘pharmaceutical grade,’or ‘Triple Strength,’ anyone can call their product anything they want.
We stand guilty of this. In our defense, OmegaVia is at least 80% pure. Usually close to 90%. If you want a list of brands (other than OmegaVia) that contain at least 80% Omega-3 and can truly qualify as pharmaceutical grade, please email me.
It’s not just the AMOUNT of Omega-3 that matters, it’s the PURITY as well.
Why Didn’t the 62% Pure Fish Oil Work? |
| Technical Explanation of Study Results
The study authors think it’s because Omega-3 fats are a poor substrate for synthesis for triglycerides and Omega-3 also inhibit enzyme, acyl CoA:1,2-diacylglycerol acyltransferase due to the natural affinity Omega-3 has for this enzyme. This effect is enhanced because any oil that’s 85% EPA + DHA will likely be well over 90% in total Omega-3. This means there is very little, if any, other fatty acids. But the 62% pure oil had one-third non-Omega-3 fats. The ‘other’ non-Omega-3 fatty acids won’t react the same way with the acyl CoA enzyme. This means less impact on triglycerides. |
This does not mean that a ‘Triple Strength’ fish oil sold at some drug stores should be avoided. These product may work to provide other benefits. You just can’t rely on them to reduce your triglycerides.
BOTTOM-LINE: For Triglycerides, make sure your oil is AT LEAST 80% Omega-3
You can get 3,000 mg of Omega-3 from a regular-grade fish oil supplement. But you won’t notice any difference in triglycerides!
Do your homework before you buy fish oil to reduce your triglycerides – make sure it is at least 80% pure.
| DISCLAIMER: This information is for your education only. The contents of this blog do not constitute medical advice. This is merely an open discussion of the science behind health and nutrition. Please consult your physician for medical advice. |
About the Author: Vin Kutty is OmegaVia’s Scientific Advisor and Chief Blogger. He is a nutritionist, author, and Omega-3 expert with over 20 years of experience. Email him.
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