Fish oil supplements are used to treat many conditions because of their myriad effects on the human body. Fish oil may help with some kinds of stomach pain, but fish oil supplements can also cause some digestive side effects. Talk to your doctor before taking fish oil supplements.
What is Fish Oil?
Fish oil is a supplement that comes from certain kinds of fish, such as mackerel, herring, salmon and tuna. The main benefit of fish oil is that it contains a special kind of polyunsaturated fat known as omega-3 fatty acids. Increasing your consumption of these fats helps reduce your risk of having a heart attack, stroke or other types of cardiovascular problems. Fish oil supplements are also taken to treat other conditions.
Fish Oil and Ulcers
One potential use of fish oil supplements is that they can be taken to treat peptic ulcers. Peptic ulcers are sores that develop in your stomach or small intestine, and they can cause intense stomach or abdominal pain. One of the things that can worsen peptic ulcers is inflammation. Fish oil supplements reduce the amount of inflammation in the body, so in theory they can help relieve some of the pain from a peptic ulcer, according to complementary medicine specialist Dr. Ronald Hoffman.
Fish Oil Side Effects
Although fish oil supplements may help with some kinds of stomach pain, fish oil may also contribute to stomach problems. Fish oil supplements are noted to have many side effects, including heartburn, belching, nausea, diarrhea and indigestion. As a result, you may experience abdominal pain after taking fish oil supplements. You can reduce the severity or likelihood of these side effects by taking fish oil with food or by freezing the supplement before you take it.
Considerations
Fish oil supplements are usually safe to take and may provide some relief if you suffer from a peptic ulcer. If they do cause side effects such as heartburn, belching and nausea, you are more likely to experience discomfort than any severe medical complication. However, talk to your doctor before taking fish oil supplements. Fish oil can interfere with your blood's ability to clot, resulting in easy bleeding and bruising.
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