Nutritional supplements do not go through the stringent approval process that prescription drugs do. As a result, nutritional supplements may be more likely to contain harmful additives. Further, nutritional supplements are not required to prove that they do what they say they are going to do. This lack of quality control does not work to the consumer’s advantage. In terms of fish oil supplements, it means over-the-counter supplements may contain undesirable levels of mercury or harmful fats (i.e. saturated fats). 

Manufacturers of a new prescription fish oil supplement, Lovaza®, hope to help. Lovaza® is a highly concentrated capsule containing 840mg of omega-3 fatty acids. This is about 3 to 4 times the amount in most over-the-counter supplements. Keep in mind that an over-the-counter supplement may say it contains ‘1000mg’, however, this is the total weight of all ingredients, not just the weight of the omega-3 fatty acids.

Most over-the-counter fish oil supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids along with other fats, sometimes harmful saturated fats.  Using prescription Lovaza® may mean getting more of the desirable fats and less of the harmful saturated fats. If you chose to stick with the over-the-counter fish oil, you can look for products that are “USP verified”.  These products will usually contain a seal on the label stating so.  This means that they have been tested for potency and purity.

Remember, if you are taking fish oil supplements to lower triglycerides, you will still need medical supervision to make sure you are meeting your therapeutic goals and avoiding harmful side effects. Fish oil supplements can inhibit blood clotting making you more prone to undesirable bleeding. Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting a fish oil regimen and tell him or her if you have a history of stomach ulcers, stroke or are taking blood thinning medications like aspirin or Coumadin®. When done right, fish oil supplements can be a healthy addition to your daily routine.