Dietary supplements are designed to provide essential nutrients that aren't consumed with a normal diet. Providing a variety of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients, supplements can improve health. One of the most popular supplements is fish oil. Comparing omega-3 fish oil brands can be difficult because there's a selection of ingredients, amounts of fish oil and price range.
Science
Every brand of omega-3 fish oil has a specific scientific process for the research, development and manufacturing. Certain fish species can contain contaminants that could decrease the purity of the fish oil. Labels that read "fish oil" or "marine lipids" could have a mixture of fish used during the manufacturing process. A bottle of fish oil that is specific to one species, such as salmon oil, will only contain oil from that particular species.
Features
The most important features to compare on omega-3 fish oil brands include the total amount of omega-3 fatty acids. A total of eight omega-3 fatty acids---ALA, DHA, EPA, DPA, HPA, ETA, ETA(3) AND SDA---need to be complete and balanced in a fish oil supplement. EPA (eicosapentaenoicacid) and DHA (docosahexaenoicacid) are two of the most important fatty acids, as they are the building blocks for cells and vital organs, and should be considered the most when comparing brands.
Considerations
Consider the purity, number of ingredients and potency when comparing brands. The purity of the fish oil could decrease as brands add ingredients such as fillers, additives or preservatives. Watch for other oils, such as soybean, or other unlabeled ingredients. The other ingredients also decrease the overall potency of the supplement, requiring you to increase your dosage to receive the same amount of fish oil and corresponding health benefits. Some species of fish carry a higher risk of environmental contamination, such as with mercury, according to Mayo Clinic's website. People with fish allergies should avoid fish oil or omega-3 fatty acid products taken from fish.
Benefits
Fish oil supplements are recognized as providing health benefits, including heart health and joint health. According to Mayo Clinic website, fish oil can improve heart health by lowering triglycerides, reducing the risk of strokes, blood fat levels, heart attacks and blood clots, along with lowering blood pressure and protecting against atherosclerosis. As an anti-inflammatory, fish oil can reduce the risk for arthritis and inflammatory skin disorders.
Price
Prices for omega-3 fish oil brands vary based on the potency of fish oil, number of capsules per bottle and amount of marketing for the individual brand. For example, one of the offerings from Nature Made brand fish oil contains 300 capsules with 1,200 mg of fish oil and can be purchased for $21; while Kirkland Signature brand fish oil offers a bottle containing 180 soft-gels with 1,200 mg of fish oil for $23. Prices are as of 2010.
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