Like most dietary supplements, fish oil may cause undesirable side effects when consumed excessively. Although a formal tolerable upper limit for fish oil has not been set, you can reduce your chances of experiencing side effects by limiting your daily intake. Discuss fish oil supplementation with your doctor, particularly if you have any chronic conditions or if you take medication regularly.
Recommended Dosage
Adults should not take more than 3 g of fish oil per day, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Fish oil usually contains two essential fatty acids: EPA and DHA. For optimal health benefit, choose capsules that contain 0.17 to 0.56 g of EPA and 0.072 to 0.31 g of DHA. The amount of fish oil per capsule varies from product to product, so be sure to check how many grams each capsule contains before taking any supplement.
Special Cases
Certain medical conditions may warrant higher doses of fish oil than others. Always consult your doctor before taking more than three grams per day. For example, according to Medline Plus, patients with high triglycerides, hypertension, certain kidney conditions, asthma and salicylate intolerance may need to take higher doses of fish oil. Consuming 4 g of fish oil in the later phases of pregnancy may protect your unborn baby from chronic allergies and atopic dermatitis, but always consult your obstetrician before increasing your dosage during pregnancy, notes MedlinePlus.
Side Effects
Excessive dosages of fish oil can cause serious side effects. Mild side effects include gas, abdominal discomfort, heartburn, nausea, loose stools, rash, nosebleeds and bad breath. High doses of fish oil reduce the blood's ability to clot and may result in excessive bleeding. Other side effects include decreased immunity, particularly in people with lowered immunity due to medications, as well as increased "bad" cholesterol, or LDL. If you have high cholesterol and take fish oil regularly, you should have your cholesterol levels tested frequently.
Interactions
Fish oil supplements may interact with some medications and medical conditions. If you have liver disease, depression, diabetes, bipolar disorder, hypertension, seafood allergy, HIV or AIDS, fish oil may aggravate symptoms of your condition. If you take medications to regulate blood pressure or increase weight loss, fish oil might interfere with their effectiveness. Because fish oil decreases blood clotting, taking supplements with anticoagulant medications like warfarin, heparin or aspirin might make your blood too thin and cause excessive bleeding.
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