Fish oil is a substance derived from the bodies of certain fish species, including halibut, mackerel, tuna, salmon, herring and cod. The active ingredients in fish oil are eicosapentaenoic acid---or EPA---and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. Both of these substances belong to a class of essential nutrients called omega-3 fatty acids.
Basics
Omega-3 fatty acids perform several vital roles in your body, including building cell membranes in your brain and controlling the clotting of your blood, the Harvard School of Public Health says. However, you cannot manufacture omega-3's internally, and you must obtain them from foods or supplements. In addition to oil, fish oil supplements often contain vitamin E, which helps prevent spoilage of the oil during storage, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's Medline Plus.
EPA
In addition to supporting basic functions in your body, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil can be used in the treatment of a variety of medical conditions, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Specific potential uses of EPA include treatment of high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other disorders that trigger significant inflammation. Adults need at least 220 mg of EPA per day. You can get this amount by taking 3,000 to 4,000 mg of fish oil per day. Alternately, you can get adequate supplies of EPA by consuming two or three servings of fatty fish each week.
DHA
All adults need DHA for proper brain function, and children need DHA for proper development of their nervous systems and vision in early life, the UMMC reports. Your body naturally produces small amounts of DHA, but this production is not enough to meet your overall needs. As with EPA, you can fulfill your DHA requirements by taking 3,000 to 4,000 mg of fish oil each day. Also, as with EPA, you can meet your DHA needs with two or three weekly servings of fatty fish. Vegetarians can meet their DHA needs with supplements extracted from certain species of algae. However, algae-derived supplements do not contain EPA.
Side Effects
Medline Plus lists potential side effects of fish oil supplements, such as loose stools, bad breath, belching, nausea, nosebleeds, rashes and heartburn. You can diminish the potential for these effects by freezing your supplements or taking them with food. Fish oil use can worsen symptoms in individuals who have diabetes, liver disease, depression, high blood pressure, seafood allergies, HIV/AIDS or an implanted defibrillator. Consult your doctor before using fish oil.
Considerations
Breast-fed children typically get enough DHA and EPA if their mothers consume adequate amounts of these substances, the UMMC notes. Do not give fish oil to an infant or young child without a doctor's explicit advice. In some cases, the species used in the creation of fish oil contain high levels of mercury or other toxic substances. Avoid the possibility of exposure to these substances by purchasing fish oil that is labeled contaminant-free. To ensure the safety of DHA and EPA content in fish oil products, look for supplements that contain standardized amounts of these substances.
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