Many of us know that fish oil such as cod liver oil is very beneficial for our health. It is needed for nerve function, proper digestive function, heart health, skin and hair health, it is very anti-inflammatory, and has many other functions.
Recently, there has been a prescription form of oil put on the market called 'Lovaza'. Besides being much more expensive than good quality fish oils (please see my discussion on finding good quality supplements
http://doctorprego.com/quality.html ), it contains such things as hydrogenated oils, and the ethyl form of fish oils.
One thing that is interesting is that the form of fish oil appears to make a significant impact on its absorption. The ethyl ester form of fish oil, which is the form most cheaper fish oil comes in, is more poorly absorbed than the triglyceride form. Lovaza contains exclusively the ethyl ester form. That is one reason that high quality fish oil from companies that know how to process the oil correctly, rather than using Lovaza, would be preferred.
Below are excerpts, and links for, a few studies discussing this topic.
"The n-3 fatty acids from fish appear to be more efficacious, in terms of cardioprotection, than equivalent amounts provided as capsules. Volunteers were given, for 6 wk, either 100 g/d of salmon, providing 383 mg of EPA and 544 mg of DHA, esterified in glycerol lipids, or 1or 3 capsules of fish oil/d, providing 150 mg of EPA and 106 mg of DHAor 450 mg of EPA and 318 mg of DHA, as ethyl esters. Increments in plasma EPA and DHA concentration after salmon intake were significantly higher than after administration of capsules. The same increments would be obtained with at least two- and nine-fold higher doses of EPA and DHA, respectively, if administered with capsules rather than salmon."
In other words, it take 2x as much EPA, or 9X as much DHA, in ethyl ester capsule form to equal the blood concentration provided by the triglyceride form.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12848287 Another study:"We conclude that under our experimental conditions specific M-n3-M with EPA and DHA predominantly in the sn-2 position of the triacylglycerols was a more readily absorbed source of EPA and DHA and in this context should be investigated further for the potential use in clinical nutrition."
http://grande.nal.usda.gov/ibids/index.php?mode2=detail&origin=ibids_references& Remember, it is important when using fish oils, or any other supplement, to use the forms that are most beneficial to your body. Also, supplements should not contain things that can be harmful, such as hydrogenated oils.
Dr. James Prego
Naturopathic Doctor
Long Island Naturopathic
560 Main St, Suite 4
Islip NY 11751
631-650-0268
www.doctorprego.com
Recently, there has been a prescription form of oil put on the market called 'Lovaza'. Besides being much more expensive than good quality fish oils (please see my discussion on finding good quality supplements http://doctorprego.com/quality.html ), it contains such things as hydrogenated oils, and the ethyl form of fish oils.
One thing that is interesting is that the form of fish oil appears to make a significant impact on its absorption. The ethyl ester form of fish oil, which is the form most cheaper fish oil comes in, is more poorly absorbed than the triglyceride form. Lovaza contains exclusively the ethyl ester form. That is one reason that high quality fish oil from companies that know how to process the oil correctly, rather than using Lovaza, would be preferred.
Below are excerpts, and links for, a few studies discussing this topic.
"The n-3 fatty acids from fish appear to be more efficacious, in terms of cardioprotection, than equivalent amounts provided as capsules. Volunteers were given, for 6 wk, either 100 g/d of salmon, providing 383 mg of EPA and 544 mg of DHA, esterified in glycerol lipids, or 1or 3 capsules of fish oil/d, providing 150 mg of EPA and 106 mg of DHAor 450 mg of EPA and 318 mg of DHA, as ethyl esters. Increments in plasma EPA and DHA concentration after salmon intake were significantly higher than after administration of capsules. The same increments would be obtained with at least two- and nine-fold higher doses of EPA and DHA, respectively, if administered with capsules rather than salmon."
In other words, it take 2x as much EPA, or 9X as much DHA, in ethyl ester capsule form to equal the blood concentration provided by the triglyceride form. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12848287
Another study:"We conclude that under our experimental conditions specific M-n3-M with EPA and DHA predominantly in the sn-2 position of the triacylglycerols was a more readily absorbed source of EPA and DHA and in this context should be investigated further for the potential use in clinical nutrition." http://grande.nal.usda.gov/ibids/index.php?mode2=detail&origin=ibids_references&
Remember, it is important when using fish oils, or any other supplement, to use the forms that are most beneficial to your body. Also, supplements should not contain things that can be harmful, such as hydrogenated oils.