Because of its numerous well-documented benefits, fish oil has become the most popular dietary supplement in the United States, according to a survey conducted by ConsumerLab reported in the Feb. 1, 2010 "Orlando Sentinel." If you have joined the millions of others who take fish oil and then developed sensitivity to sunlight, you might wonder if the fish oil has contributed to your new-found sensitivity. Sensitivity to sunlight, sometimes called photophobia, is not among the side effects associated with fish oil. On the contrary, fish oil might be expected to decrease the severity of photophobia. Still, there are some circumstances that might link fish oil and photophobia.
Health Benefits
For most people, the potential benefits of fish oil far outweigh the risk of the possible side effects. Fish oil contains DHA and EPA, two omega-3 fatty acids that have a wide range of positive health effects. They decrease cholesterol, blood pressure, vascular plaque and triglycerides, physiological effects that contribute to improved cardiovascular health and a decreased risk for heart attack and stroke. Other health benefits include improvement of symptoms of osteoporosis, kidney disease, diabetes, menstrual pain, psoriasis, asthma, lupus and certain types of cancer, according to Medline Plus, a website sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.
Photophobia
Photophobia results from a number of conditions, including infection or inflammation of the eye, virus-caused illnesses, central nervous system disorders, corneal abrasion, detached retina, contact lens irritations, sunburn and refractive surgery. It also can occur as a symptom of botulism, rabies, conjunctivitis, keratitis, iritis and mercury poisoning. Some medications can cause photophobia, as well, including furosemide, tetracycline, belladonna, quinine and doxycycline. Symptoms of photophobia can include intolerance of light, the need to squint your eyes and headaches.
Mercury Poisoning
Photophobia is a symptom of mercury poisoning, and though it is highly unlikely, it is theoretically possible to get mercury poisoning from fish or fish oil. Fish flesh and fish livers tend to accumulate mercury, PCBs and other toxins, but not the fish oil. This is especially true of large, long-lived, predatory fish. Most fish oil manufacturers use extensive distilling and filtering processes to remove contaminants, or they use fish that tend to be low in mercury and other contaminants.
You are more likely to get mercury poisoning from eating fish daily than from taking fish oil supplements. A report by ConsumerLab.com, an independent lab that tests dietary supplements, examined 41 fish oil products and found that none was contaminated with PCBs or mercury, according to the March 23, 2009 "New York Times." However, in 2010, San Francisco attorney David Roe filed a lawsuit claiming 10 fish or liver oil products contained PCBs, compounds that were banned in 1979. Eight of the 10 products named in the suit were cod or shark liver oils, while only two products were fish oils.
Fish Allergies
About 2.7 percent of Americans have an allergy to fish, according to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. If you have an allergy to fish or seafood, you might also have allergic responses to fish oil, which could trigger symptoms that include photosensitivity. You would expect to also have other symptoms, such as hives, swelling or eczema, wheezing or coughing, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, itchy or watery eyes, runny nose and signs of anaphylaxis, such as dizziness or loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing or a drop in blood pressure.
Positive Effects on Photophobia
Fish oil might have positive effects on photophobia, as well. People who lack omega-3 fatty acids can display a syndrome called fatty acid deficiency, or FAD, a condition that can include symptoms such as dry skin, brittle hair, excessive thirst and photophobia, according to physiology researcher Alex Richardson of Oxford University. Also, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil promote anti-inflammatory processes of the immune system, which should reduce photophobia symptoms associated with inflammation or infection.
References
- All About Vision; Photophobia (Light Sensitivity); Judith Lee, et al.; June 2011
- Food and Behavior Research; Physical Signs of Fatty Acid Deficiency; Alex Richardson, et al.
- Mayo Clinic: Omega-3-Acid Ethyl Esters (Oral Route)
- MedLinePlus: Fish Oil; February 24, 2011
- Mercury News: Lawsuit Claims PCBs Found in 10 Fish Oil Supplements; Product Labeling Sought
- "Nutrition in Clinical Practice"; Diet and Inflammation; Leo Galland; December 2010
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