Fish oil is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are purported to have multiple nutritional benefits. MayoClinic.com reports that omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent heart disease by lowering triglycerides and minimize abnormal heart rhythms. While some omega-3 fatty acids are also found in flaxseed oil, nuts and salmon, fish oil has a full panoply of the different fatty acids.
Misconceptions
Discussing the specific nutrients in fish oil is difficult because different preparations of fish oil vary widely. While most capsules contain 1,000 mg fish oil, others contain 1,200 mg. Some product information reports nutrition data for a one capsule, while others state that a serving consists of two capsules.
Even the content of fish oil itself varies. For example, 1,000 mg fish oil capsules from different manufacturers may have varying amounts of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, the two most important omega-3 fatty acids.
Contents
The Nature Made web site reports that two softgels of Nature Made fish oil have 25 calories. Virtually all of these calories are from fat. This product contains 1 g saturated fat and 25 mg of cholesterol. The web site states that one serving of Nature Made fish oil contains 720 mg of omega-3 fatty acids, but does not specify what types of omega-3 fatty acids are included.
Variation
The Coromega web site provides information about the nutritional content in its fish oil product. Their product comes in packets, with one packet being the equivalent of a single serving. One packet provides 2,000 mg of fish oil and has 25 calories. All of these calories are from fat. Each packet has 1 g of saturated fat and 25 mg of cholesterol.
Unlike Nature Made, Coromega provides more information about the specific fatty acids contained in the product. One packet has 350 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 230 mg docosahexaenoic acid. The preparation also contains flavoring agents and a scant amount of vitamins C and E.
Warning
Fish oil is not the same thing as cod liver oil. Unlike cod liver liver oil, which is made from fish livers, fish oil is made from the entire fish. The Foundation for IgA Nephropathy explains that vitamin A is concentrated in the liver so people who take cod liver oil as if it were fish oil risk vitamin A toxicity.
Contraindications
The Foundation for IgA Nephropathy warns that people who take aspirin and other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen should avoid taking fish oil until they talk to their doctor because fish oil can enhance the anti-platelet action of these drugs.
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