Fish oil is a general term that refers to the oils contained in several species of fatty fish. These oils have significant amounts of health-supporting substances called omega-3 fatty acids. While salmon is one of the species used in the production of fish oil, not all fish oil supplements come from salmon.
Basics
You can get fish oil into your diet by eating certain fish or eating supplements derived from these fish, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus. In addition to salmon, species commonly used for food sources of the oil include herring, tuna sturgeon, anchovies, trout, tuna, mullet and mackerel. In addition to salmon, species commonly used in fish oil supplements include halibut, herring, mackerel, cod and tuna. Supplemental fish oil can also contain oil derived from the blubber of seals or whales.
Fish Oil and Omega-3s
Omega-3 fatty acids are considered an essential part of your diet because you need them but can't produce them internally. They help support nerve and vision development in infants and normal brain function, and may play specific roles in maintaining your memory, behavioral functions and mental performance. Potential therapeutic uses of omega-3s include heart disease prevention, improved diabetes control, high blood pressure reduction and increases in your levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol. To get sufficient amounts of omega-3s into your diet, the American Heart Association recommends that you eat salmon or other fatty, fish oil-containing species twice a week.
Additives and Dosages
In addition to the oils from salmon and other species, fish oil supplements commonly contain a little bit of vitamin E to increase their shelf life, MedlinePlus explains. Other substances sometimes added to fish oil include iron, calcium, vitamins A and D and several B vitamins. You can typically take as much as 3 g of fish oil per day without any harmful side effects. However, doses in excess of 3 g can potentially increase your risk for bleeding or stop your blood from clotting properly if bleeding occurs. Check the labels or packaging of fish oil products to determine their specific oil content.
Considerations
If you're allergic to salmon or any other fish species, you may also be allergic to fish oil supplements, Medline Plus notes. Other conditions that make you an unsuitable candidate for fish oil use include depression, liver disease, bipolar disorder, high blood pressure, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Fish oil may also cause problems in people who have implanted defibrillators. Before you use fish oil, review your plans with your doctor, especially if you have a defibrillator.
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