Fish oil tablets are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, a type of fat that your body needs in order to be healthy. Fish oil can have a number of benefits for your cardiovascular health and may also help to strengthen hair and skin. When taken at recommended doses, fish oil is considered to be very safe. There is, however, a small chance that you may experience adverse reactions to fish oil.
Belching
Burping and gas are common reactions that you might experience while taking fish oil supplements. According to Drugs.com, about 5 percent of people taking fish oil will have belching reactions. Often times, these belches will take on a fishy flavor or aftertaste. While fish-flavored burps pose no danger, they can be troublesome and annoying if you require fish oil therapy, especially at higher doses. To avoid fish-flavored burps, MedlinePlus recommends taking fish oil supplements with meals or right before going to bed. Freezing fish oil capsules can also reduce belching reactions. Fish oil burps can also be partially prevented by using enteric-coated or time-release fish oil capsules that do not dissolve in the stomach, but rather in the small intestine where the fish oil is maximally absorbed.
Bleeding
One of the potential advantages of fish oil and omega-3 supplementation is that fish oil may prevent blood clots from forming in your arteries that form the basis for a stroke or heart attack. Unfortunately, when taken in high doses of more than 4 g a day, fish oil can also prevent healthy blood clotting processes. If you have a bleeding disorder, or, if you are taking any prescription drugs that can increase spontaneous bleeding, you should discuss the use of fish oil with your doctor before taking fish oil. While it is rare for fish oil to cause life threatening bleeding conditions such as aneurisms, MedlinePlus notes that fish oil is known to cause nosebleed reactions in some people.
Heart Reactions
While fish oil likely helps promote cardiovascular health, some people may experience adverse heart reactions to fish oil. According to Drugs.com, about 1 percent of people taking fish oil report having changes in heart rhythms, angina or chest pains. These reactions are not likely to be serious, but should be promptly reported to a doctor, especially if you have a history of high cholesterol or heart disease.
Rashes
Skin breakouts are a commonly reported reaction to fish oil. Drugs.com explains that about 2 percent of people taking fish oil report minor skin irritations while using fish oil. Mild skin rashes are also a common side effect of Lovaza, a prescription form of fish oil that is enriched in specific types of omega-3 fatty acids.
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