By Simeon Margolis, M.D., Ph.D. Provided by: Johns Hopkins University

Your Healthy Heart

Still Awaiting Final Word on Fish Oil Supplements By Simeon Margolis, M.D., Ph.D. - Posted Fri, Nov 10, 2006, 3:45 pm PST

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  • 1. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Nov 11, 2006, 6:17 pm PST

    What about Omega 3 from Flax products?

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  • 2. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Nov 12, 2006, 2:15 am PST

    As I read the article I also wondered why only arrythmia was addressed? I am 45 and pregnant with my second child (the first being 20 yrs old) and am taking a prenatal (OptiNate) which includes an omega-3(DHA) tablet derived from an all-natural vegetarian source (microalgae) as such avoiding possible mercury contamination.

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  • 3. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Nov 12, 2006, 6:01 am PST

    What a disappointing article? There was no useful information, just a lot of contradictory statements. I agree with i_can_shart_, why was this article even put up for Yahoo users to read?

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  • 4. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Nov 12, 2006, 6:02 am PST

    What a disappointing article? There was no useful information, just a lot of contradictory statements. I agree with i_can_shart_, why was this article even put up for Yahoo users to read?

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  • 5. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Nov 12, 2006, 6:38 am PST

    I also agree with I-can-shart... I have been taking fish oil supplements for over a year now and my triglyceride levels dropped like a stone and my cholesterol levels have also dropped so much that I no longer need Lipitor!

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  • 6. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Nov 12, 2006, 9:00 am PST

    I heard it just produced different effects between males and females. I think Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, from Sunday Housecall, said that males received better preventative effects taking the fish oil supplement for their hearts (i.e heart attacks, coronary artery disease) but that females received slightly better results for preventing strokes and dementia when they took the fish oil supplement. So though it might not give the other gender the same benefits, both should still take it as a supplement every day. He's a cardiologist, and he takes the supplement every day and advises his patients to do so. Just another reference I thought I'd put out there.

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  • 7. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Nov 12, 2006, 9:58 am PST

    Something more Dr. Rosenfeld also said: that if you were pregnant you may not want to take fish oil supplements, since vitamins aren't standardized like a prescription (you don't know what amounts of Omega 3s or traces of mercury could be in the supplements). Take another Omega 3 vitamin supplement instead if you have concerns. It's not going to give the same benefits as fish oil but it won't contain any trace of mercury. He also suggested stopping the fish oil supplement a few days- a week before any planned surgery. Since fish oil acts like a blood thinner, it could cause excessive bleeding during an operation if you DON'T discontinue using it prior to the procedure. Just an added note to this: don't believe it if doctors ever tell you that you're wasting your money on vitamins and supplements. They're the first to push a chemical down your throat and tell you it's good for you. Just because they don't benefit from personally peddling vitamins and supplements on the masses doesn't mean "the jury is still out on it" or there's a "placebo effect." It just means there's no way for them to cash in on it like a pharmaceutical drug. Take the vitamins. You"ll be healthier than if you didn't. Most doctors aren't informed when it comes to nutrition and taking vitamins because it's not a subject that was ever covered in one of their classes in med school. It's not a subject matter most doctors care to stay informed about. In most cases, we have to educate them on this matter.

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  • 8. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Nov 12, 2006, 10:33 am PST

    My 88 year old grandmother's very bad rheumatoid arthritis disappeared after taking Omega 3 fish oil for maybe six months. It was miraculous. Omega 3's are a wonderful anti-inflamatory. Many of our health problems from diabetes to heart disease are related to inflammation. Fish oil also helps allieviate depression and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The article that this Dr. above is referencing just came out recently and it had only elderly people as participants. After you've wrecked your body for decades even all the fish oil in the world may not prevent you from having a stroke. Also, regarding mercury in fish oil supplements, you can do a google search online for 'mercury levels in Omega 3 supplements' and you'll find product comparisons put out by the FDA for most supplements on the market. The vast majority of them test negative for mercury. The supplements are put through an extensive purification process, which makes them much safer than eating the same amount of actual fish. Also, we've started giving our 3 year old daughter very high grade fish oil daily and it's made a tremendous difference in her mood, her concentration and her verbal skills. In Britian, many grade schools give their students Omega 3 fish oil to stave off ADHD and it has raised their test scores. There are several studies linking Omega 3's to lower incidences of ADHD in young children. The Omega 3's seem to allow their brains to develop more normally and offset some of the damge done by too much t.v. and bad eating habits. If there's any question at all about how much Omega 3 fish oil can help you, just ask the Japanese, and while you're at it give their elderly people a good look over. They have the highest lifespans on the planet and they eat primarily diets of fish. Same thing for Norweigans. If you think that vegetable Omega 3's are the same as fish oil supplements, you are mistaken. The quality of the omega 3's are not nearly as good and you aren't getting the same kind of protection. If you're pregnant or other wise concerned about contamination, go to a health food store and ask to see a list of supplement comparisons and ask for the most purified forms they have, which will also be the most expensive by the way. What we buy our daughter is called Coromega and it comes in little squeezable packets. Our kid loves it, tastes like orange and chocolate, no fishy aftertaste. It is highly pure, pharmacutical grade Omega 3 fish oil. It cost about U.S. $35 for a 90 day supply and is worth it! I researched it heavily before giving it to her. My wife and I take Natures Choice Omega 3 supplements, which the watchdog websites says has no mercury contamination and is very good stuff as well. Don't let articles like the above one fool you into thinking that Omega 3 supplements aren't worth your time. Omega 3's are one of the most valuable things you can do for your health. The only thing I recommend more highly than Omega 3's is ginko biloba, for the protection it gives your cels against everything from cancer to diebetes to stroke. It's also great and I can't recommend it enough.

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  • 9. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Nov 12, 2006, 10:46 am PST

    flaxseed is great for you, without omega 3's, 6's and 9's in a meal, you wont be at your max.

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  • 10. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Nov 12, 2006, 1:27 pm PST

    I'm in my 40s and have an unexplained heart arrhythmia that is controlled fairly well by beta blockers. I started taking OmegaBrite fish oil supplements nine months ago to see if it would have a positive effect. Unfortunately, I haven't noticed any change. The arrhythmmia comes and goes--no rhyme or reason. I haven't had my cholesterol checked recently, but it was 153 two years ago when I was first diagnosed with the heart problem. I have also been treated for depression on and off for about four years. I have noticed an improvement in my mood since starting the OmegaBrite and with my doctor's encouragement, halved my antidepressant dose and then gradually discontinued its use. It's been two months since I took an antidepressant and so far I'm doing fine off of it. Finally, I think my skin looks better--coincidence? Who knows?

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  • 11. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Nov 12, 2006, 5:49 pm PST

    #11., lancelotcq2. You should state your opinion as just that- your opinion. If you are going to state a fact- you should state your reference. Perhaps it is you who is mistaken. That is- just my opinion.

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  • 12. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sun, Nov 12, 2006, 8:38 pm PST

    I gave my fish oil to my daughter for her SAD, but my joints are feeling the lack of it. Fish oil should not have a fishy aftertaste, if it does its rancid. I buy mine thru vitacost.com. Their house brand NSI is excellent.

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  • 13. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Fri, Dec 08, 2006, 9:15 pm PST

    lancelotcq2, I have 3 1/2 year old daughter who has been having awful behavior problems and I was debating about whether to give her fish oil. After reading your post, I really want to try. The Coromega, where do you buy it? Thanks for your help.

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  • 14. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Fri, Dec 08, 2006, 9:22 pm PST

    lancelotcq2, I have 3 1/2 year old daughter who has been having awful behavior problems and I was debating about whether to give her fish oil. After reading your post, I really want to try. The Coromega, where do you buy it? Thanks for your help.

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  • 15. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Mar 14, 2007, 8:56 pm PDT

    My doctor gave me OMACOR, which is a prescription Omega-3. He said it was the only FDA approved Omega-3 on the market, so he believes in it. Best part...it was covered by my insurance!

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