Fish Oil
Fish oil is a common term used to refer to two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These omega-3 fats are usually found in fish, animal products and phytoplankton. Fish oil is recommended as a source of these omega-3 fats as they are the cheapest and most common source of them.
Fish oil provides a variety of benefits when supplemented, particularly when the ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the body is almost equal (1:1). The average diet (red meat, eggs, and so forth) are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which is why fish oil is recommended (to balance the ratio).
A ratio of roughly 1:1 is associated with healthier blood vessels, a lower lipid count and a reduced risk for plaque buildup. Fish oil can also decrease the risk of diabetes and several forms of cancer, including breast cancer.
Fish oil works primarily through eicosanoids, which are signalling molecules. A proper ratio of omega 3:6 fatty acids will influence which eicosanoids are released in response to stress.
It should be noted that fish oil can also reduce triglycerides in people with high triglyceride levels. However, it can also increase cholesterol, so care should be taken before supplementing fish oil for this purpose.
The fatty acids in fish oil are important precursors to protective prostaglandins and are associated with reduced risks of numerous cancers, including breast, prostate, and colon cancers. EPA and DHA have been demonstrated to improve levels of regulatory molecules such as bcl-2, leading to apoptosis of tumor cells in various in vitro models. EPA and DHA improve response rates to some chemotherapy agents, including Irinotecan and Doxorubicin. Fish oils in some studies demonstrated the ability to slow, or even reverse, the wasting syndrome of advanced cancer known as cachexia. In one study, 6 gm/ day of EPA halted weight loss in pancreatic cancer patients who had previously been losing an average of 2 kg monthly, leading to stabilization of weight for the duration of the 12-week study period. Another advantage to fish oils is their well-documented ability to reduce platelet aggregation. Cancer patients are more prone to thromboses than the average person, and it has also been postulated that reduction of thromboses can indirectly reduce metastases because many micrometastases are encased in platelet aggregates, effectively masking the tumor cells from the immune system. Flax oil is sometimes considered a vegetarian alternative to fish oils because it also contains omega-3 fats. Although flax oil is beneficial in cancer, the majority of studies used the preformed EPA/ DHA of fish oils, the currently recommended form, since conversion of the flax oil omega-3 into EPA and DHA is limited.
Dosage
A daily dose of 1000 mg EPA + DHA may be sufficient as a general health adjunct. However, for more therapeutic indications the dosage range based upon most clinical studies is between 3 and 4 gm/ day of EPA + DHA.
Since fish oil is a combination of two different fatty acids, these numbers reflect a combined total. Total eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) consumption should come from a mix of real food and supplements. The more EPA and DHA is provided by the diet, the less supplementation is required.
Fish oil can be taken throughout the day. To minimize the "fish burp" taste, take fish oil with meals or freeze the capsules.
Safety
Individuals known or suspected to have a bleeding disorder, as well as those prescribed therapeutic levels of aspirin or warfarin, should have their bleeding time parameters measured, although this risk is not likely to exist in actuality. Patients may benefit from fish oil when taking cyclosporine. Fish oil may also have synergistic or additive effects with the cholesterol- and triglyceride-lowering drugs pravastatin and simvastatin and have broader therapeutic value. Fish oil is likely to modulate the cytotoxicity of many chemotherapeutic agents to increase therapeutic efficacy without increasing toxicity. It may also reduce adverse effects of many chemotherapeutic regimens, including the unintentional loss of weight. It may increase the efficacy of some antidepressants without an increase in toxicity. A thorough review by Stargrove et al found nearly every drug interaction to be a beneficial one.