The biggest difference between salmon oil and fish oil is the source. Salmon oil comes from salmon while fish oil can come from a wide variety of fish such as tuna, krill, trout, cod, herring, mackerel, anchovy or sardine. Fish is known as brain food and each fish holds its own nutritional value but all fish are high in Omega-3 fatty oils, specifically EPA--eicosapentaenoic acid--and DHA--docosahexaenoic acid.
Salmon
Salmon ranks the highest when it comes to the Omega-3 fatty oils. It is the salmon's character of swimming upstream and traveling great distances that makes it the fattiest fish to consume. According to The World's Healthiest Foods website, "the fat composition of salmon has recently been evaluated as superior not only because of its rich omega-3 content, but also because of its great ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s and its health-supportive balance of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats."
Other Fish
Fish such as tuna, sardine and cod are also considered fatty fish with Omega-3 fatty oils but are not as rich in the essential nutrient as salmon. Cod and tuna, naturally high in protein, have less than 15 percent of the daily value for Omega-3 fatty acids, according to The World's Healthiest Foods website, while salmon boasts just over 87 percent. Sardines, high in vitamin B12, have just over 50 percent of the daily value for Omega-3 fatty acids.
Processing
Dr. Howard Peiper states in his article on the Green Lipped Mussel Oil website that processing fish oil requires refining, high temperatures and chemical solvents. The fish, which are often parts of anchovies and sardines, are heated, pressed for oil, then bleached and purified to make it more pleasing to consumers. Some companies increase the percentage of EPA and DHA by using chemical solvents. Companies like New Chapter use wild Alaskan salmon for their salmon oil. They use the whole fish which is cold pressed, similar to extra virgin olive oil. There is no need for chemicals or high heat because wild caught Alaskan salmon is the purest, cleanest salmon.
Benefits
Both salmon oil and fish oil are beneficial to health, delivering Omega-3 fatty acids to a diet. The higher the levels of EPA and DHA, the stronger the benefits and salmon has higher levels of these two Omega-3 oils than other fish. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine website, there is strong evidence that fish or fish oil can significantly reduce triglycerides in the blood. Some studies reported both success in lowering blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.
Risks
Caution should be taken when using salmon or fish oil as a daily supplement. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine website warns against high doses as it may lead to an increase of bleeding. Farmed fish have higher rates of contaminants than do wild caught fish but a survey of salmon and fish oil producers by the Environmental Defense Fund website indicates most companies are purifying their fish oils for safe consumption. Other side effects can include gastrointestinal upset.
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