I recently had a conversation with a friend about doses of fish oil. She’s been taking an omega-3 fish oil product that provides less than 400 mg of EPA and DHA in three (3) capsules. “But you get more capsules in a bottle”, she told me, “so it’s a better value”. Now she is a bright person, but in fact, the product was not a good value. Some fish oil supplements provide a lot more EPA and DHA in only ONE capsule.
Fish oil is fish oil, and there are different grades (different quality standards) and different doses of EPA and DHA per gram of oil (concentrations). So, we compared the amount of omega-3 per dollar. The product providing 700 mg omega-3 in one (1) capsule was, by far, a better value. And, she could take only one capsule and stop swallowing 5 capsules a day just to get her omega-3s.
The next question asked, is whether or not she was taking a therapeutic dose. She thought, because she was taking 3 capsules, that she was getting a good dose.
The bottom line on dose is this: We do not have formal recommendations for EPA and DHA intake in the United States, but the estimated Minimum daily intake for adults is 500-650 mg EPA and DHA. That meets basic nutritional needs.
In my opinion, the minimum therapeutic dose of fish oil begins at 1 gram of EPA and DHA per day. That’s the minimum amount recommended by the American Heart Association if you have a family history of heart disease, and that is the minimum recommended for mental health or mood conditions. These are minimum intakes.
Most professionals and researchers, who know about fish oil, take 2-3 grams of EPA and DHA per day.
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That is a really good explanation about the dosage vs. the content of the fish oil capsule. I feel like I can walk in a store and know what I am looking for now.
Actually you probably cannot go into a store and find the best fish oil products, but you can go on-line and buy them at www.pharmaomega.com
Pharmaomega products are not sold through stores and are only available through the web or by calling 800 600-3261. Thanks
One can walk into any pharmacy and be greeted by a large variety of Fish oil in either capsule, liquid and compressed tablet form.
I recently found a brand that offered 1200mg (~1160mg) per capsule (EPA 800mg, DHA 600mg), and thought, why don't I take 2 x 1200mg capsules per day (1 x A.M. and 1 x P.M), instead of my current 8 x 300mg per day? (4 x A.M. and 4 x P.M. - EPA 180mg, DHA 120mg)
Is there any difference in the absorption levels between taking such a high dosage in the A.M. or should it be absorbed by the body over a longer period? i.e. A.M. and Midday and P.M.?
Can one take TOO much DHA/EPA?
i.e. Example
- 1 x 1000mg tablet containing 300mg of DHA and EPA.
compared to:
- 1 x 1300mg table containing 1160mg of DHA and EPA.
Alas, I could not get a straight answer from any of the physicians, pharmacists or naturpaths...
It worked out to be 'slightly' more expensive for the tables at 1200mg (800+400) rather than the lower 4 x 300mg (180+120) dose.
So my question is; How do we tell what is a GOOD quality deep sea fish oil (from the hundred other brands), and how long have the contents been sitting in storage at the warehouse or factory it was manufactured from?
I think what also confuses people is the fact they say 1000mg... i.e. 1000mg / 1g of fish oil...
The amount of DHA/EPA differs from 60mg to 300mg per "standard" capsule. (With 300mg being the average most widely available.)
I have only found 1 brand that provide a high strength 1200mg EPA/DHA and 900mg EPA/DHA...
Cheers,
(Sorry for the essay!)
clarification: is that recommendation for 1 g of EPA and DHA COMBINED (500 of each) or 1g of each EPA and DHA?
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