Omega supplements - help

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Naniam
Naniam Member Posts: 1,766
edited June 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
For some of you that take the fish oil supplements, do you buy Omega supplements that contain Omega 3,6,9 - which fish oil is an omega supplement. If you do, do they contain EPA or DHEA???? I bought the Omega supplements thinking that was what I needed but it has the other stuff in them. Now I'm worried. This gets so confusing - so many things to consider. I've never been one to take pills and now I'm taking a "good" vitamin, Vitamin C, Calcium, Glucosamine/chondrontin MSM, Complete Omega 3-6-9. I thought the Omega supplements were "good" for us.

Is all this helping my joints or me overall ?? Well, I'm getting bigger!!! I'm about to just toss all this stuff out the window. Am I taking the right stuff?? Will welcome your thoughts.

Thanks Brenda
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  • Rosemary44
    Rosemary44 Member Posts: 2,660
    edited July 2007
    We get too much omega 6 and to offset it, we're suppose to be taking omega 3. If they list omega 6 in it, try to find one without much in there. I don't see it listed but if they add plant oils to it, it has omega 6 also.

    Here's a list of fish oils that passed the testing from consumer labs. Look at the ingredients of some of them. It's amazing what all they put in them besides the fish oil.

    http://www.consumerlab.com/results/omega3.asp
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  • BlindedByScience
    BlindedByScience Member Posts: 314
    edited July 2007

    I think it's a typo, but don't take DHEA. This is a hormone that can be converted to estrogen. The fish oils contain EPA and DHA--very different.

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  • Naniam
    Naniam Member Posts: 1,766
    edited July 2007
    Yes, it was a typo - only DHA. Maybe it is just me, but the supplements get very confusing - thanks for the help.

    So, I only need Omega 3 - fish oil, 1000mgs daily is the recommended dose, right???

    Brenda
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  • Rosemary44
    Rosemary44 Member Posts: 2,660
    edited July 2007

    Yes, that's correct. 1000 mgs a day. Or eat fatty fish, then you don't need a supplement that day.

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  • SoapMaker
    SoapMaker Member Posts: 157
    edited August 2007
    Don't forget to take your omegas with an antioxident, such as vit E or C. The omegas are oxidizers.

    ----------------------------------------------------------
    Where is the cure
    www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org
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  • BlindedByScience
    BlindedByScience Member Posts: 314
    edited August 2007

    Cin54--I've never heard that the omega-3 fatty acids had oxidant properties--but taking an antioxidant with them will help keep them from degrading.

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  • pconn03
    pconn03 Member Posts: 643
    edited August 2007
    Can anyone recommend a brand of Fish Oil that doesn't have soy in it?? I had one and when I read the ingredients, it had soy - so I had to throw it out. I would much appreciate a suggestion for a brand that you might use.
    Thanks,
    Pat
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  • lindaDK
    lindaDK Member Posts: 99
    edited August 2007
    Check Andrew Lessman's Essential Omega 3's, you can find them at hsn.com. They have no soy. I take a lot of his vitamins.

    I would post a link but it doesn't fit! Go to HSN.COM, click on Health tab, then click on Andrew Lessman.

    Hope this helps
    Linda
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  • rubytuesday
    rubytuesday Member Posts: 2,248
    edited August 2007

    Andrew Lessman's Essential Omega 3s also have peppermint and spearmint oils in them to assure no after taste. Best wishes

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  • pconn03
    pconn03 Member Posts: 643
    edited August 2007
    Linda and Rubytuesday:
    Thanks so much for the information. I looked up the website and was very impressed - the only thing I noticed that made me worry was that it said the product contained "high ALA Flaxseed oil" and I stay away from flaxseed as well since I am hormone positive. Not sure now . . . Again many thanks for your quick responses!!!
    Pat
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  • Rosemary44
    Rosemary44 Member Posts: 2,660
    edited August 2007
    Pat,

    I don't like taking the pills, so Joan of the Ardmore was talking about coromega in packets one day, and I tried it, and liked it. No soy in there. It's cheaper to buy it on the net then at my vitamin store. The orange flavor reminds me of a creamsicle.

    Otherwise, I haven't spoken to you in a while. I hope all is going great for you.
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  • pconn03
    pconn03 Member Posts: 643
    edited August 2007
    Rosemary:
    It has been awhile, hasn't it but it is so good to hear from you. I don't post as much but I definitely keep up with the wisdom you and others impart on this forum!!! When there has been a question asked I always look to see your answer . . . because I know how much you look into things!! Thanks so much for that. I sure hope all is continuing to go well for you, too, Rosemary. All is going great here, thank God. Thank you (and Joan) for the tip on the coromega - I definitely will try it. Just one more question if I might - do you have a particular website you order from??? Thanks again for your help!!
    God bless,
    Pat
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  • Rosemary44
    Rosemary44 Member Posts: 2,660
    edited August 2007
    Hi Pat,

    Here's where I get it:

    http://www.vitacost.com/Coromega-Omega-3-Fish-Oil-Supplement

    Thanks so much for your kind thoughts. I have to stop talking about foods cause I try them all myself and now I keep floating to the top of the pool. Enjoy your summer.
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  • pconn03
    pconn03 Member Posts: 643
    edited August 2007
    Rosemary - you are too funny!!! Thanks again for the link. I've already ordered my cormega and feel good about it. Thanks again.
    Hugs,
    Pat
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    Rosemary, do you take one packet a day? I get fish oil from vita cost (strawberry flavored), but still sometimes burp strawberry fish. LOL
    Shirley
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  • SoapMaker
    SoapMaker Member Posts: 157
    edited August 2007
    Quote:

    Cin54--I've never heard that the omega-3 fatty acids had oxidant properties--but taking an antioxidant with them will help keep them from degrading.



    Yes, that's correct. It should have stated that vitamin E protects omega 3 from oxidation.
    ----------------------------------------------------------
    Where is the cure?
    www.truefacesofbreastcancer.
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  • Rosemary44
    Rosemary44 Member Posts: 2,660
    edited August 2007
    Shirley,

    Yes, just one packet daily right before my vit. D cause that needs oil in stomach for better absorption.

    Here's the thing, do you see the EPA and DHA amounts? It has been said we need 1 gram of those two daily. Not just 1 gram of fish oil. Which would mean we should be taking about 3-4 pills a day to achieve that level. BUT, I'm trying to find out how much EPA and DHA is in a normal 3 1/2 oz serving of fatty fish. We should be eating 2-3 fatty fish servings a WEEK to get the proper amounts.

    I have nothing to go on, but I think taking 3-4 fish oil pills daily is too much and what a wonderful boon to the fish oil industry. I'm on the job trying to find out.
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  • BlindedByScience
    BlindedByScience Member Posts: 314
    edited August 2007
    Rosemary, that's an interesting question. I found the information below (in a much nicer format) at:

    http://www.meg-3.com/omega3/Daily.php

    Recommended daily intake
    Many national and international health organizations recommend that adults meet their EPA and DHA needs by eating two to three fatty fishmeals per week. Although the amounts of EPA and DHA vary among different kinds of fish, the recommended daily intake for adults is approximately 500 mg of combined EPA and DHA per day (or 900 mg ofcombined EPA and DHA if you have coronary heart disease).

    Fish mg of EPA + DHA per 100g or 3.5 oz. serving

    Salmon, fresh, Atlantic farmed...2150
    Salmon, fresh, Atlantic wild.......1840
    Herring, Atlantic.......................2150
    Herring, Pacific........................2125
    Sardines (canned).....................980
    Mackerel................................1200
    Tuna, fresh, Bluefin.................1505
    Halibut...................................465
    Trout, rainbow, farmed.............1150
    Tuna, white, canned.................270
    Salmon, sockeye.....................1230
    Flounder/Sole...........................500
    Haddock..................................240
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    My strawberry flavored fish oil (yuck sometimes) has:
    • Purified Fish Oil Concentrate 1,063.00 mg *

    • Omega3 Fatty Acids 740.00 mg

    • EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) 400.00 mg

    • DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) 200.00 mg

    • Other Omega-3s 140.00 mg
    I've been taking two a day (most days). However, I emailed them wanting to know what "Other Omega-3s" are (is). Could it be something to do with flaxseed oil? I haven't received an answer unless I missed it in my email. The Coromega sounds like a much better alternative.
    Shirley
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  • Rosemary44
    Rosemary44 Member Posts: 2,660
    edited August 2007
    Good find Kris,

    Thanks, I've been asking myself that question for awhile. It seems that we should be taking more if we're trying to take as much as salmon and herring has to get the full benefit. We'll have to watch our LDL cholesterol though.

    Do you know how long I've been searching for that chart?

    Shirley,

    Are those numbers correct? The DHA is lower then the EPA? It should be the other way around. Probably is flax oil as the other omega 3. Why don't they just say it has flax oil?
    That still doesn't explain why the EPA is higher then DHA. Interesting.
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  • floss
    floss Member Posts: 57
    edited August 2007

    Hi I use jamiesons Omega 3 selec.It containes 1000mg with 30% EPA and 20% DHA. I take 3 a day ,no flax, no soy . I was intriduced to t by my phsyio who is a huge fan of Barry Sears Zone diet. I tried the zone diet but couldn't handle it but stayed with the omega 3. Of interest the lung nodules that i have that are considered non canacerous but are being monitored anyway just in case, for the first time in a year didn't show any growth in six months. coincidence maybe..Floss

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    Quote:



    Shirley,

    Are those numbers correct? The DHA is lower then the EPA? It should be the other way around. Probably is flax oil as the other omega 3. Why don't they just say it has flax oil?
    That still doesn't explain why the EPA is higher then DHA. Interesting.



    Yes, those numbers are correct. I C&P'd them so it's not a typo.

    I didn't know that the DHA is supposed to be higher than the EPA (did I get that correct?). Learn something new everyday. I suppose that gives me a good excuse to buy the Coromega. Plus, I don't want flax see oil in my capsules.

    Thanks, Rosemary.

    And BBS, I'm going to print your findings. It's nice to know which fish has what.
    Shirley
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  • Lakonia
    Lakonia Member Posts: 29
    edited August 2007
    Could someone please confirm that we shouldn't be taking flax oil if we're ER+
    thanks
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  • LizM
    LizM Member Posts: 963
    edited August 2007

    I take Carlson's super omega-3 Fish oil recommended by my natural health nutritionist. I get a little confused because it says the soft gels contain 1000 mg of a special concentrate of fish body oils from deep cold water fish. However, the supplement facts say that 1 soft gel includes 600 mg of Omega 3 Fatty Acids (from fish oil), EPA 300 mg, DHA 200 mg and other Omega 3's 100 mg. Don't really see how that adds up to 1000 mg; however it does equal 500 mg of EPA & DHA which is what blinded posted is recommended for adults. I have only been taking 1 gel but thinking maybe I should be taking two.

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  • LizM
    LizM Member Posts: 963
    edited August 2007

    Also, it seems to be that Carlson's does not have ALA's which are plant Omega 3's because it only mentions fish oil. I prefer not to have any flax oil however I have read that flax oil does not possess estrogenic properties only flaxseeds. Not sure if that is correct so I stay away from flax oil as well as the seeds.

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  • LizM
    LizM Member Posts: 963
    edited August 2007

    Also, my natural health nutritionist recommended I eat organic DHA eggs which also contain omega 3's. I checked the website of the ones I buy (Circle Farms I believe at my health food store) and the eggs are from chickens fed fish oils not plant omega 3's which was a concern for me. I eat two eggs about every other day and I try eat wild salmon or sardines at least 2/3 times a week so I am probably OK with taking 1 fish oil gel with 500 mg of EPA and DHA daily.

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  • Rosemary44
    Rosemary44 Member Posts: 2,660
    edited August 2007
    Flax oil does have its benefits:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez...Pubmed_RVDocSum
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  • Rosemary44
    Rosemary44 Member Posts: 2,660
    edited August 2007
    Shirley,

    No the DHA doesn't have to be higher, I just thought it was higher in most pills, but I was wrong.
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  • rubytuesday
    rubytuesday Member Posts: 2,248
    edited August 2007
    Found this bit of trivia when I was looking for something else...more good news about omega-3s.

    Bone Loss and Fatty Acids
    While people often use omega-3 fatty acids to reduce the inflammation associated with arthritis, these fatty acids may actually help prevent bone loss. French researchers found in a group of 105 patients that high levels of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids were strongly associated with bone loss. However, the use of omega-3 supplements--360 mg a day of eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and 240 mg a day of docosahexaneoic acid (DHA) - appeared to decrease production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 in bone and significantly stopped bone loss (Requirand et al. 2000).
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  • Rosemary44
    Rosemary44 Member Posts: 2,660
    edited September 2007

    Last year someone famous got BC and was on all the talk shows, and she was wrongly promoting taking omega 6.  She was on Larry King, and I sat there and wondered how much damage she'll be doing because she got her omega's wrong.  Oh well.

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