Taking fish oil supplements is a method for you to obtain omega-3 fatty acids, which are natural inflammation fighters in the body. True to their name, fish oil supplements are derived from the oil found in fish like mackerel, tuna, salmon, cod and anchovy. Because eating excess amounts of fish is associated with increased mercury consumption, you may be concerned about taking daily fish oil supplements. However, these supplements go through a purification process to remove harmful contaminants.
Fish Types
The first step of the purification process is selecting the type of fish used to produce the fish oil supplements. As an added safeguard, fish oil companies tend to make fish oil with smaller fish, like anchovies and cod, rather than larger fish like shark and swordfish. This is for two reasons: First, larger fish feed on other fish that can have mercury in them and second, larger fish live longer, and the amount of mercury in a fish increases over time. While much of the mercury is removed during the manufacturing process, starting with low-mercury fish helps manufacturers reduce mercury levels from the outset.
Processing
One of the early purification processes for fish oil supplements can take place on the boat where fish are caught. The fish can be ground on the boat or in a processing plant to prepare them for use in a centrifuge. This large, spinning machine helps to separate the oil from the solid parts of a fish. The oil also is heated, which helps it to separate further. Processing helps to reduce likelihood of toxins being present in your fish oil because mercury and pollutants tend to cling to the meat portion of fish, not the oil itself.
Molecular Distillation
After isolating the oil, manufacturers use a method called molecular distillation to remove contaminants like dioxins, lead, mercury and PCBs. To accomplish this, manufacturers use filters that can differentiate between fish oil molecules and contaminants. Many manufacturers will label products that have undergone this process. However, this is not a requirement for fish oil manufacturers.
Regulation
Many companies submit their fish oil supplements for testing to ensure their methods of purification are working properly. Third-party organizations like the World Health Organization, International Fish Oil Standards and Council for Responsible Nutrition test the purity of fish oil supplements to ensure they are free of or contain acceptable levels of toxins commonly found in fish oil. You can read a supplement's label to determine if the product has been tested.
References
- MedlinePlus: Fish Oil
- "USA Today"; Analysis Finds Fish Oil Supplements Safe; Elizabeth Weise; December 2004
- "Whole Living"; Is Your Fish Oil Safe? An Expert Guide; January 2011
- "Whole Living"; Is Fish Oil Safe?; April 2008
- "The New York Times"; The Claim: Fish Oil Supplements Can Contain Mercury; Anahad O'Connor; March 2009
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