However, recently concerns the potential dangers of omega-3 supplements comeback in the media, after environmentalists filed a lawsuit against severalmanufacturers of fish oil on its products contaminated by chemicals that cancause cancer.
Benefits of omega-3 fatty acids :
Fish oil supplements and omega-3 is a popular alternative choice in thecommunity who want a healthy heart, but do not like eating fish, or the fear ofmercury above the safe threshold, PCBs or other contaminants contained in fish.
Fish is an abundant source of omega-3 fatty acids, essential fats that helpmaintain the integrity of the structure of our bodies. Active ingredients inomega-3 are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), whichcan lower the risk of coronary heart disease, excessive blood clotting, lowerblood pressure and improve lipid content.
Recent years, the use of fish oil supplements in the U.S. has increased.According to a February poll by ConsumerLab.com, more people are taking fishoil supplements rather than a standard multivitamin.
Some doctors recommend taking low doses of fish oil because it can reduceinflammation in blood vessels, irregular heartbeats and improve blood flow.Fish oil is also used as a therapy for those at high risk of heart disease orhigh blood fat are genetically. At high concentrations, fish oil can reducetriglyceride levels. Large doses of fish oil may improve HDL (good cholesterol)or lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and improve cholesterol profiles.
Food and drug watchdog U.S. (FDA) sets the content of mercury in fish andrecommended to consume approximately 12 ounces of fish or shellfish (abouttwice the portion of) the low levels of mercury per week. Shrimp, salmon,catfish and canned tuna is small, is a product of low mercury content.
In addition to Lovaza, a brand of fish oil supplements that have been approvedand followed the processing of FDA standards, no omega-3 fat supplements otherFDA regulations refer.
Fish oil supplements is deemed safer than eating fish, because manymanufacturers use a lower position of fish in the food chain, so thatcontaminants can be removed during the refining process.
Unsafe levels of PCBs :
2 March, the lawsuit was filed on 10 producers of fish oil because it containscompounds polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs above the safe threshold. PCB is acompound that is prohibited by the U.S. Congress since 1979 after a caseassociated with birth defects and various forms of cancer. This lawsuit claimsthe manufacturers are violating California Proposition-65 which requires manufacturersto warn consumers, Äújumlah toxicity is detected, Äù like PCBs.
Ten brands including Omega Protein and GNC, tested positive for PCBs by theMateel plaintiffs Environment Justice Foundation and two environmentalactivists. Content in certain products even exceed the limits specifiedCalifornia, with 10 risk factors for cancer, said David Roe, a lawyer for theplaintiffs.
Although organic compounds are banned from three decades ago, they were stilldetected in U.S. waters and fish. Eating fish is the most common way to beexposed to PCBs. California Office of Environmental Health Hazard estimatesthat PCB levels in fish can be hundreds or thousands of times higher than inwater.
Council of Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a trade association representing thesupplement industry, responded to the lawsuit as the information is misguidedand misleading. PCBs present in the environment where the only and whole fishor fish oil supplements have at least a little content of organic compounds,said Andrew Shao, CRN senior vice president. Shao said that the plaintiff triedto raise this as a public health problem while fish oil has been used safelyfor decades.
The other defendants also questioned the basis of accuracy and limitations oftesting PCBs in the lawsuit.
MercuryFish oil supplements are generally considered safe from toxic heavy metals.Five brands of fish oil is tested by researchers at Harvard Medical Schoolconcluded that they, Äú don care mercury and can provide a safer alternativethan eating fish, Äù, write their reports in 2003.
In 2008, Consumer Lab.com reported no mercury or PCB contamination 41 commonfish oil supplements on the market.
Although this report mentions that fish oil capsules are generally free ofmercury, but one of the residents of Queens, USA, is known to increase thecontent of mercury in their bodies after taking fish oil supplements.
Joseph Cohen (pseudonym), a man 59 years old who have genetically low levels ofHDL and high triglycerides, consume three capsules of fish oil Spring Valley toregulate blood lipids.
After taking 4000 mg (usual dose for patients with high lipid) of fish oildaily for six months, Cohen had a series of minor disturbances that took him toa cardiologist, and run a series of blood tests.
Lab results showed triglycerides have dropped by 20-30 percent, and bloodpressure dramatically increases the mercury content than before he startedtaking fish oil capsules. He had abnormalities in memory, common side effectscaused by mercury poisoning. Cohen to stop eating all fish and derived productsfor a while.
As we will decide whether to complete the menu with fish oil or not, may be agood idea to discuss the pros and cons of this with your doctor, and checkregularly to ensure physical health in balance. (Grace Wu / The Epoch Times /fdz).
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