Fish oil is a chemical compound that uses omega-3 fatty acids as its chief ingredient. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that your body needs to function. Fish oil supplements usually do not require a prescription, but you should talk to your doctor before adding this supplement to your diet because fish oil can cause adverse side effects. One such side effect, which you should be prepared for, is easy bruising.
Fish Oil
Fish oil is easily obtained from eating fish or by taking fish oil supplements. Fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids include tuna, salmon, sardines and trout. Fish oil supplements are often made from these kinds of fish. Every 3.5 oz of fish provides 1 g of omega-3, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. Often fish oil supplements are combined with vitamins A, B1, B2, C and D. Calcium and iron are also added to enhance the nutritional value of fish oil. Vitamin E is also added to prevent spoilage.
Bruising and Fish Oil
The omega-3 fatty acids contained within fish oil are often associated with the risk of excessive bleeding, Drugs.com warns. Excess bleeding may manifest as pale skin, anemia, increased bleeding times and painful joints. Another, more mundane, symptom of excess bleeding is frequent bruising. If you developed unexplained bruises soon after taking fish oil supplements, you may have developed a bleeding disorder caused by the supplement. Fish oil tends to thin the blood and increase the chances of developing a bruise, MayoClinic.com reports. Consult your doctor if bruising occurs.
Platelets and Fish Oil
The mechanism that fish oil uses to cause increased bleeding and bruising is associated with decreased platelet adhesion, a 1990 article in the journal "Blood" notes. Platelets are small cells that help blood clot properly. If platelets are unable to adhere to the blood vessel, then blood is unable to clot quickly. Thus, by interfering with platelet function, fish oil increases bleeding. Furthermore, a common symptom of platelet disorders, whether from fish oil use or otherwise, is bruising, an article in "American Family Physician" explains. If you have a history of bleeding disorders, are scheduled for a surgery or suffer from other diseases, such as stroke or hypertension, you should not take fish oil supplements.
Other Side Effects
Other side effects of fish oil include mild symptoms, like an unpleasant, fishy taste in your mouth, stomach pain, back pain and a mild skin rash, Drugs.com states. Some patients may experience more serious symptoms, including high fever, flu-like symptoms, chest pain and uneven heartbeats. Severe symptoms often require immediate medical attention.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Easy Bruising: Common As You Age; May 2011
- MedlinePlus; Fish Oil; February 2011
- Drugs.com; Fish Oil; March 2011
- "Blood"; Fish oil: a potent inhibitor of platelet adhesiveness; Li XL and Steiner M.; September 1990
- "American Family Physician"; Bleeding and Bruising: A Diagnostic Work-up; Michael Ballas, MD and Eric H. Kraut, MD; April 2008
Member Comments