For
those who take a fish oil supplement everyday or eat a decent amount of
fresh fish, it can be assumed that it is all created equal.
Unfortunately - this is just not the case.
A lot of people consider all fish oil supplements the same. The only
difference is the cost. So why spend more on a ‘quality' fish oil,
rather than just picking up a value pack from the chemist?
Fish sources
A
major difference between inferior fish oils and superior fish oils is
the source. The fact is, all fish oils can actually be separated into
several different types, or grades, dependent on the source of the oil.
These grades vary dramatically in quality, consistency, safety and
effectiveness.
In the old days, the most common type of fish oil
was cod liver oil. Though cod liver oil is high in omega-3's, it is
considered low grade due to its' high percentage of contaminates -
along with the omega-3's, you'll also receive high levels of mercury,
pesticides, solvents, and peroxides.
Nowadays, the best quality
fish oils are sourced from cold- and salt-water fish like anchovys,
sardines, mackerel and even krill. These are pure sources of fish oil
that contain little contamination or heavy metals. Generally, the cheap
kinds of fish oils are sourced from sharks, cod, tuna, salmon and other
‘waste' fish sources - all of which are known to contain high levels of
mercury and other contaminates.
Purification
In
order for a fish oil to be virtually free from contaminates, it must
undergo an extensive (and often expensive) filtration and distillation
process during manufacture.
Levels of contamination is a concern
we see expressed time and time again, and for good reason. The best
fish oils undergo a lengthy molecular distillation process that
separates dangerous mercury and lead from the oil, while concentrating
it for higher omega-3 levels. These fish oils are well under Australian
standards for levels of pesticides, solvents and heavy metals, so you
know that you are only swallowing fish oil, and nothing else.
Molecular
distillation is an expensive process, which is why many cheaper brands
do not undertake it. Without proper distillation, the fish oils can
contain high levels of dangerous contaminates. Unfortunately, there is
very little that can be done to stop this evasion from happening, and
these cheap fish oils continue to be rolled out.
Only after this
precise molecular distillation process has been undertaken, and when
the fish oil is regularly tested and passed to have low levels of
contamination can they be referred to as ‘Pharmaceutical Grade Fish
Oil'. Because of the process, you can be sure that even the smallest
particles of contamination are removed, resulting in a fish oil that is
approximately 1000 times more pure than any chemist grade fish oil.
Toxicity
Heavy
metals like mercury, lead, arsenic and pesticides are considered
oxidants. They are detrimental to your health, attacking healthy cells
and causing illness and disease. Recent attention on antioxidants and
‘free radical damage' has highlighted the importance of reducing
oxidants in the body. Unfortunately, for those who are taking an
antioxidant supplement, a cheap fish oil may be erasing all your hard
work.
A top, pharmaceutical-grade fish-oil derived omega-3
supplement is actually one of nature's best antioxidants. It has the
ability to cross the blood brain barrier, helping to prevent the
incidence of strokes, heart attacks and inflammatory conditions.
Concentration and Ratios
An
obvious difference between a good fish oil and a ‘great' fish oil is
the strength. Don't be fooled by the ‘each capsule contains 1 gram of
fish oil!' claims. If each tablet weighs 1 gram, then of course it
contains 1 gram of fish oil. The difference is in the concentration of
omega-3's in that capsule.
The top pharmaceutical-grade fish
oils contains high ratios of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of EPA
(eicosapentanoic acid) and DHA (docosahexanoic acid). For example,
Metagenics Meta EPA/DHA contains 300mg of EPA, and 200mg of DHA.
In
comparison, a cheaper brand like Enervite's ‘Super Fish Oil' contains
only 180mg of EPA and 120mg of DHA. Though it may seem cheaper, you'll
need to take almost 4 times as many Cenovis capsules for just one of the Metagenics brand. And you think you're saving yourself money.
For
maintenance of general health, fish oil needs to contain appropriate
ratios. It is known that EPA is important for the treatment and
reduction of inflammation, reduction of strokes and heart attack
prevention. DHA is important for foetus development, cognition and
brain development. Many cheaper brands simply ‘throw in' what they can
get.
Pharmaceutical Grade
As discussed, there are a few different ‘grades' of fish oil that are available.
Scarily,
not all products are TGA approved (Therapeutic Goods Administration -
the governing body for natural medicine). This means that they have not
undergone the strict quality testing required for approval - and they
can be sold at any store that wishes to do so. This type of untested
fish oil supplement is generally referred to as ‘supermarket' grade.
The
next grade, ‘health food store' grade is generally available in your
local health food store or chemist. These are often TGA approved,
however they have not undergone rigorous testing in order to fully
minimise the levels of contamination and toxicity. This grade generally
contains low concentrations of contamination, and low levels of
omega-3's.
The highest level available is ‘Pharmaceutical-Grade'
fish oils. These fish oils represent the best in fish oil products
available. They have undergone rigourous and ongoing testing,
surpassing TGA expectations and ensuring that every single capsule
contains molecularly distilled fish oil. Because of the highly
expensive testing and production, very few brands make this grade.
The Spinal Centre's Comment:
If
you are going to take a fish oil supplement (or any supplement), you
should get the best quality available. As you would have read, buying
fish oil is not as simple as just grabbing the cheapest off the shelf.
Literally thousands of product flyers and ads cross The Spinal Centre's desks every year. Only
a couple out of every hundred make the cut. The majority of products
available on The Spinal Centre surpass TGA standards, so we can be sure of the
quality and research that has gone into every capsule.
Omega-3
fatty acids are extremely beneficial to your health, but if you
purchase a low-grade product that contain many contaminants, you could
just end up doing yourself more harm than good.
Heart
attack and stroke prevention, optimal brain function, memory, mental
well-being, anti-inflammation and lower cholesterol are a few of the
many benefits of taking a top fish oil.
Pharmaceutical-grade
brands brands are usually only available in-clinic or by prescription -
however at The Spinal Centre we are lucky enough to be able to offer them to you.
We stock the best fish oil supplements available in Australia -
including Metagenics, Bioceuticals and Eagle Pharmaceuticals - all backed
by extensive research and quality control.
In this economic-focused climate, it can be tempting to just grab
the cheap, bulk pack from the chemist, but we hope that this article
stands to show the disadvantages and dangers of doing just that.
On
the subject of expense, you need to devote some brain power to what you
are really getting out of each capsule. Don't just look at the big
picture - it all comes down to actual concentrations. Some of the fish
oils we offer are up to 6 times as strong as cheap brands.
The bottom line? Educate yourself. Stop wasting your money on cheap, nasty fish oils and invest in the BEST fish oil you can buy.
Further Reading:
