Dangers of Fish Oils: It is a well know fact that omega oils convert easily to essential fatty acids and that they have been proven to be safe and effective when manufactured and stored properly.
It is these two points , i.e. manufacturing and storing of the product, we mush be concerned with. If not manufactured properly levels of the of the omega oils can vary greatly. Also, contamination is also an issue because fish can accumulate toxins such as mercury, dioxins, and PCBs.
If we are lucky enough to locate a high quality fish oil product the manufacturing date plays an important part in a safe and effective product. Fish oils can turn rancid quickly and lose their effectiveness [1]-[2].
Flaxseed oil is another oil that can become rancid rather quickly if not stored properl y. It can turn rancid quickly if stored at warm room temperatures[3] . The one fact many people overlook about flaxseed oil is it's two purposes; “one” for food and the other as an industrial solvent. Flaxseed oil when broken down by heat , i.e. warming, becomes the very popular industrial cleaner know as linseed oil [4]. Wheat germ oil, another popular oil also has a short shelf-life and breaks down very quickly. It begins to go rancid as soon as it is milled and becomes completely rancid in as little as 72 hours[5].
As you can see these are two issues that must be overcome in order to purchase a safe and effective essential fatty acid supplement.
Lets review these two important issues in detail.
Manufacturing process: Manufacturing process can vary greatly. Further, if the product is imported from a questionable source you have absolutely know idea what is in the product.
There is one statement the rings loud and clear for imported dietary supplement products “buyer beware.” Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) -- chairman of the Committee on Government Reform acknowledged that the booming interest in dietary supplements among Americans has fueled questions about whether consumers are at risk of using supplement products brought in from overseas[6].
“The origin of these products is not controlled,” says Dr. Domenic Sica, professor of medicine and pharmacology at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia. It's not safe just because a company says it's safe [7].”
This does not necessarily include products who's raw material is purchased overseas and manufactured in the U.S. In these cases the U.S. manufacturer can quality monitor the production process as well as the raw material. U.S. manufacturers have guidelines called Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP's) unlike their overseas competitors.
Products manufactured in the United States and other countries that have stringent government quality control guidelines can offer us a good safety level.
Storage/Shelf-life: As stated earlier omega oils can start to turn rancid as soon as the processing begins [8]. The manufacturing process can actually be the cause of the breakdown itself. The storage of the finished product is also of concern as it can cause the product to turn rancid rather quickly[9].
Click here for Part 6: Supercritical Extraction
Return to Part 4: Foods for our Energy Needs
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http://www.consumerlab.com/results/omega3.asp
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Turner R, McLean CH, Silvers KM. Are the health benefits of fish oils limited by products of oxidation? Nutr Res Rev. 2006;19:53–62.
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http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/columnnn/nn010306.html
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http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Crops/Linseed_oil.html
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Multifoods Inc.
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Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center www.muhealth.org/~arthritis/news/supplements.html
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Supplement Dangers Risk that Some Dietary Supplements May be Contaminated ABC News, July 26 th , 2003
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Multifoods Inc.
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http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/columnnn/nn010306.html
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