Is Fish Oil Harmful?

Is fish oil harmful? Are there major fish oil safety issues? Are there potential side effects fish oil?

Fish oil is rich in DHA and EPA, two omega 3 fatty acids which benefit health in many ways. People take fish oil precisely for the health benefits of these omega 3 fatty acids. If taken correctly and in proper doses, fish oil should be quite safe to consume.

There are a couple of potential side effects to take note of. For example, there are suggestions that ingesting fish oil could raise blood sugar levels, or increase blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the so-called bad cholesterol. On the other hand, there is also much evidence to suggest that fish oil in fact helps to lower these elements. Perhaps diabetics need to be extra cautious when choosing to take fish oil.

Another potential adverse reaction stems from the fact that fish oil helps to thin the blood. This is generally a good thing, helping to improve blood flow and circulation. However, for persons who are on blood-thinning drugs like aspirin and warfarin, the blood could become too thin and cause necessary danger, such as an increase in hemorrhagic stroke risk. Such persons may thus want to avoid fish oil.

Is fish oil harmful? There are suggestions that fish oil, when damaged by oxygen, could be harmful to health, although this has never been conclusively proven. Studies have suggested the addition of vitamin E to fish oil can prevent such oxidative damage.

Is fish oil harmful? One particular potential danger of fish oil relates to cod liver oil. Cod liver oil has good amounts of vitamin A. This vitamin is very important for health. However, when it is taken via supplements, there is the possibility of overdose, which should be avoided. Taking too much vitamin A also hampers the body's ability to use vitamin D.

Is fish oil harmful? Other aspects of fish oil's potential dangers lie not in the innate properties of fish oil themselves, but in related factors. Due to environmental pollution, fish today are highly contaminated with toxins like mercury, dioxins and PCBs. When one eats a lot of fish, one would also be at higher risk of exposure to these toxins. This is especially true when eating fish which are higher up the food chain, as they tend to accumulate more toxins in their bodies. To reduce the possibility of harm to health from a fish oil supplement (pills, tablets, capsules, etc), it is imperative to find one which is certified to be pure and toxin-free.

Another issue with fish is that those which are raised in farms tend to have relatively less omega 3 fatty acids and relatively more omega 6 fatty acids. This profile increases the risk of inflammation in the body, a situation which raises one's risk of many health ailments.

Some basic reactions which one may experience with fish oil usage could include bad breath, bloating, belching and nausea. Reduction of dosage and gradual re-increase could do the trick to overcome such symptoms. One could also switch to other sources of omega 3 fatty acids.

Is fish oil harmful? In truth, and generally speaking, fish oil is considered quite safe. Remember, though, that too much of anything, or anything which is contaminated, can be harmful to health. As long as a pure source is sought, and one does not overdose, the likelihood of harm is relatively low.