Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Are All Brands the Same?

Online, September 10, 2010 (Newswire.com) - There is no doubt that a high fish oil intake through the large consumption of fish may present a risk for increased environmental toxin exposure. Mercury, significant among these toxins, may come from coal-fired power plants, waste incinerators, and mining operations as well as other sources. Once airborne, the pollutants fall to the ground in rain or snow and get into the water supply and are converted by bacteria to methylmercury, which is toxic to humans. Older and larger fish, especially predatory types, have accumulated more mercury than younger, smaller fish. Mercury poisoning by fish consumption has resulted in neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms including numbness in the mouth and extremities, ataxia, auditory impairments, and most importantly, severe neurologic damage to children born to mothers with toxic mercury exposure. Polychlorinated piphenyls (PCBs), Organocholorine pesticides, the most common one being dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and dioxin has also found their way into the water supply and eating fish has been associated with toxicities from these agents. Dioxin is the primary component of Agent Orange which was used as a defoliant in the Vietnam War and is considered a carcinogen. The totality of the evidence supports that the benefits of eating large amounts fish to increase the intake of fish oil exceeds the potential risks, especially for women of childbearing age.

As for the benefits of fish oil intake though selected supplements, testing has shown that the level of mercury and other environmental toxins is very low or negligible. This occurs for two reasons: First, oxidized mercury is only water soluble and insoluble in oil and thus would not be expected to represent a significant toxicity risk with the intake of fish oils. Second, selected fish oil supplements undergo extensive purification processes to remove toxins and with the prescription fish oil preparations undergoing a more rigorous regulatory processes. Manufacturers of selected fish oil supplements have implemented purifications and quality controls designed to reduce the risk of exposure to these toxins. Thus, Omega-3 Fatty Acid supplements (O3FA) may be preferable to fish consumption as a therapeutic source of O3FA.

The caveat to the benefits of O3FA supplements is that the Nutraceutical industry is largely unregulated. Although the FDA designates O3FA supplements as "generally regarded as safe," they are not subject to premarket review and approval requirements like prescription medicines. Some fish oil manufacturers elect to pursue "USP-Verified" marks on their label which indicates compliance with standards set by the US Pharmacopeia (USP), which is an independent, non-profit organization established in 1820 that has set the legally recognized standards for identity, strength, quality, packaging, purity, and labeling. Many physicians are unaware of USP monographs. The USP is also involved with the verification of products through the voluntary Dietary Supplement Verification Program. The presence indicates that the USP has rigorously tested and verified the supplement. The O3FAs that I take and give to my patients are USP certified. Some manufacturers make false claims about their O3FA being "pharmaceutical grade," which I caution many patients to be wary of. When I am asked if a particular brand of O3FA contains excessive vitamins or toxins that may pose a health risk, I answer by saying that it depends on the operating and purification processes each company uses. The only way to truly tell if a supplement is safe is by checking that it is "USP-Verified".

When searching for the right supplements, one must keep in mind that product labeling does not address the efficacy of a supplement. For efficacy information, a label needs to state the amount of EPA (Eicosapentaenoic) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) within the supplement, and subsequently, the proper dose can be determined. In my office, I show patients five of the most common brands that state 1000mg per tablet; however, if one looks on the back of the label, there is usually about 300mg of EPA and DHA. So if I recommend patients to take 4000mg, they would need to take 12 pills instead of 4 pills, easily mislead if they were basing dosage off of the 1000mg stated on the front of the package. I would encourage one to take my highly concentrated liquid supplement, which contains 3200mg per teaspoon if they are treating high Triglycerides, or 2 to 3 of my 500mg tablets if they are using fish oil simply for Cardiovascular clinical benefits. It is important to beware of this common overlook in proper dosage, especially if the supplements are being used to treat hypertriglyceridemia.

There is no evidence that anything less than 4000mg daily can have an effect in lowering triglycerides, and low doses are completely discouraged. Most importantly, the ONLY FDA-recognized and assayed N-3 Fatty Acid product is Lovaza. If there is no response to any N-3 FA product within 8 weeks of treating hypertriglyceridemia, it should be abandoned as therapy. About Dr. Richman:

About Dr. Richman

Dr. Michael Richman is the founder of The Center for Cholesterol Management in Los Angeles and The Elite Laser Vein Center. He is a cardiothoracic surgeon and is a leading expert on cholesterol management and advanced lipoprotein testing. Dr. Richman is the national heart health examiner for the Examiner.com and is the cholesterol expert on WebMD.com. He also has been on shows such as Dennis Prager, Daily Buzz, KYMA, WFLA, WZTV and Southern California Life, etc. Dr. Richman is very learned, camera ready and a highly respected surgeon and doctor. He is a firm believer in giving back to the community and dedicates much of his time to treating patients pro-bono who would not otherwise be afforded health care. Dr. Richman is available for appearances on very short notice. Dr. Richman also specializes in venous disease (i.e.: those unsightly varicose veins and how they can contribute to health problems: heart problems, ulcerations, pain, swelling, arterial disease). He treats many flight attendants, mothers after pregnancy and women/men that are in pain daily from standing on the job for many hours. His treatment is virtually painless, non-invasive and is administered with local anesthesia. The results are no pain and no traces of the veins.

Dr. Richman is available to speak as an expert on any issues pertaining to the heart, veins and their diseases as well as many other health issues. Dr. Richman has testimonials and patients available upon request to speak about their experiences with him and his unique lipoprotein testing.

Dr. Richman's Blogs:
WebMD.com: http://blogs.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/
Examiner.com: http://www.examiner.com/x-41545-Heart-Health-Exami...

Dr. Richman is an expert on the following topics:
Cardiovascular Disease (i.e. Heart Attack, Stroke, Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)), Cholesterol Management, Advanced Lipoprotein Testing, Obesity, Diabetes, Hypertension, Insulin Resistance/Metabolic Syndrome (Cardio-Metabolic risk factor evaluation), Venous Disease (i.e. Disease of the veins throughout the entire body including varicose veins and Restless legs syndrome), Pelvic Congestion Syndrome, anything related to the lungs or esophagus (i.e. GERD or Lung Cancer), any abdominal condition, Cancer, Herbal Remedies (i.e. red yeast rice), & medications.

About The Center for Cholesterol Management

The Center for Cholesterol Management is directed by Michael F. Richman, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.C.C.P. Dr. Richman is a diplomat in the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, a fellow in the American College of Surgeons and a fellow in the American College of Chest Physicians. In 2002-2003, he was listed by the Consumers' Research Council of America in the "Guide to America's Top Surgeons".

After completing his medical degree at Georgetown University, Dr. Richman moved to his native home of Los Angeles to complete his general surgery residency at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Medicine. He then completed a fellowship in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital at the University of Miami. Having performed nearly one thousand cardiac bypass procedures throughout his career, Dr. Richman has always maintained a strong interest in the preventative aspect of cardiac care, namely cholesterol (lipid) management. As a long-standing member of the National Lipid Association, Dr. Richman started The Center for Cholesterol Management in August 2005 in order to focus exclusively on preventative care and management for those who may be at risk for heart disease.

The Center for Cholesterol Management is the only free-standing facility in Southern California to deliver state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment of lipid disorders using advanced lipoprotein testing- the only test that provides both traditional lipids and the number of atherogenic particles to better identify and manage patients at risk for coronary heart disease. He recently added the most comprehensive cardiovascular testing available to identify patients at risk for cardiovascular disease earlier and then individualize the appropriate treatments. Dr. Richman is one of very few heart surgeons with a practice dedicated to advanced lipoprotein testing and the prevention of heart disease.

In late 2006, Dr. Richman opened the Elite Laser Vein Center in order to treat and provide the newest cutting edge procedures to tackle the often misunderstood problem of VENOUS REFLUX DISEASE. He is one of the few surgeons in the Los Angeles Area that performs endovenous laser ablation for lower extremity vein problems. www.elitevein.com.

To schedule an interview or to find out more about Dr. Richman and his services, contact: Caroline Taicher at (310) 713-0777 or email: [email protected].