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Post by Shananigan on Feb 26, 2004 18:39:37 GMT -5
Hi all,
I'm 2 weeks into our supplements, and still tweaking things. My ds is having trouble swallowing the Omega capsules, and I'm getting tired of squeezing them into peanut butter for him to eat. So I'm looking for a new product. I see Nordic Naturals, but it looks pricey. I found a product from Health From the Sun that says it is Molecularly Distilled. The info on it claims that this process removes all but the tiniest traces of the metals and other gross stuff. Does anyone out there know if this is good enough? What is the difference between pharmaceutical grade and molecularly distilled?
I'm getting a little weary of trying to wade through all the supplement information and figure out what is true and what is marketing schemes.
Shananigan
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Post by ohmama on Feb 26, 2004 23:08:46 GMT -5
Shananigan, Welcome to the forums. I am familiar with the product you mention from Health From The Sun. I called this manufacturer once. As I remember they catch their fish in waters around Columbia (not a good area) therefore it is necessary for them to molecularly distill or they would not be able to sell it, too polluted. Yes, molecular distillation is good but where the fish are caught is very important also. There are certain qualifications to lable a product as pharmaceutical grade and this company does not meet those high standards. You will want the best and that means molecularly distilled AND pharmaceutical grade. You can purchase any of the Nordic Naturals oils for a better price if you order them from VNF Nutrition instead of directly from Nordic Naturals. Unfortunately VNF leaves a lot to be desired in their shipping schedule so it takes a while to receive your order. You would want to take this into account when ordering and not let your supply get to low before reordering. www.vnfnutrition.com or phone 800-681-7099. Nordic Naturals has excellent products that meet the highest standards. Another good quality product fish oil (but not a liquid) is by Natural Factors called RxOmega-3 Factors (pharmaceutical grade). They come in large softgels from www.iherb.com at a very reasonable price. |
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Post by Shananigan on Mar 4, 2004 1:55:59 GMT -5
Oh Mama, thanks for your reply. I've been out of town, so didn't get it right away.
I have been using the Rx Omegas, but ds just can't swallow them. I'm getting tired of poking and squeezing them!
On the iherb website, Health from the Sun has some information about fish oil and sources. I'll cut and paste it here:
"Do fish oils come from Norway, Sweden, and Greenland etc.? Yes and No! Many well-known suppliers of dietary supplements claim that their fish oils come only from northern waters because the supplier of their products may be in Norway or Sweden. While their location of these companies may be in Nordic geographies most of their fish oils come from Sardines and Anchovies caught off the coast of Chile."
They go on to say that northern fish (salmon) don't contain the high levels of EPA and DHA that Sardines and Anchovies do, so the addition of these fish is necessary. They seem to be suggesting that Nordic Naturals is not being honest about where they get their fish.
I find it all so confusing. How is a person supposed to know where a fish oil company really catches their fish? Can you trust a web site with this information? Do I need to call each company and ask for the truth in writing? It sounds like you did some calling.
I guess I'm really just complaining. It is so hard to know who to listen to when it comes to nutrition. Everyone has a different opinion!
In any case, I do appreciate your opinion, and your willingness to help me out!
Shananigan
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Post by catatonic on Mar 4, 2004 9:36:20 GMT -5
Shananigan,
I'm going to let OhMama comment on the quality issue, as she is FAR more informed on this than pretty much anyone in the universe. I simply look for pharmaceutical grade...in addition to reading OhMama's recommendations!
I just want to chime in on the pill-swallowing problem. There are liquid forms of fish oil available, some flavored, which may be easier to take (although they are still nasty underneath the flavoring).
There are also powdered forms, and I DO NOT recommend buying these EVER. They are horrible and gross and taste disgusting and don't dissolve the way they're supposed to. If you want to avoid an expensive disappointment, stay away from soluble omega-3 powder!!!
A really good option for liquid Omega-3 supplementation is flax seed oil or borage oil. Both taste pretty decent and flax seed oil is often less expensive than fish oil. However, these plant forms of Omega-3 contain the short-chain fatty acids that the body uses to build DHA and EPA and they may not work well for everyone. (They don't for us. We stick with high-EPA fish oil products.) Another option is to reduce capsule size by purchasing a high-DHA product that leaves out the "extra" stuff and is smaller because of that. Lots smaller. (These don't work for us either, unfortunately.)
And you're right, it is difficult to wade through all the - sometimes inaccurate or misleading - information out there. I purchase only nationally known brands and often email the company for additional product information (such as possible corn content, since my boy can't have any corn). We make a few mistakes (like the soluble omega-3 powder - yuk!!!) but overall it works pretty well.
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Post by Jorgy on Mar 4, 2004 15:12:25 GMT -5
I'm not trying to sell anything but the suppliments I have Jake on are all in powdered form and mix with water. My dh started taking this a while ago and was so impressed he started to market it. Again I am NOT selling this but am mentioning it because it is all liquid and actually tasts pretty good. Our whole family started taking this. As for the ADHD problems... read my post about ds, Jake. I am still monitering this but hope to continue to have possitive results. The web site for this product is www.doranj.unfranchise.com Sue |
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Post by ohmama on Mar 4, 2004 23:47:31 GMT -5
Shananigan,
I understand your confusion. It seems everyone is out to make a buck on our kids and it is hard to know who to trust. There are a few things to look at in making these decisions.
Back in 1995, Greenpeace analyzed various fish oils for organochlorine pesticides and other contaminants. As far as I know Greenpeace is not involved in marketing or endorsing any products so it's probably safe to conclude their report is reliable.
What they found is that many DHA based products do not meet these standards. Just because a product may have a high DHA content you cannot assume it is good. Something more is necessary. This is where the fish are caught. They found that the best DHA comes from the coast of Norway. Unfortunately, many manufacturers import DHA from Columbia, which is laden with pesticides and heavy metals. It is not difficult to find this out. If you ask they have to tell you. You may hear an excuse on how it is not that important though. Don't fall for it. Often the product will have a low price.
Next, or maybe even first, you will want to look for a product that is pharmaceutical quality. If the manufacturer does not state this I would not even consider looking any further at their product.
I think it is always best to approach the company in question directly and not rely on criticism from someone who is in competition. It is doubtful their tactics are reliable considering this type of source. I make a lot of phone calls directly to the manufacturers and ask pointed questions.
Just one of the many things I like about Nordic Naturals is that they are third party tested, positively no PCBs or heavy metals. They are manufactured in an oxygen free environment. Too many pluses to go into here but if you call the company they will fill you in more on their quality and where they catch the fish. You will often hear reports from doctors, pharmacists, and health care professionals recommending this company.
Trout, salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, tuna, and eel are the richest sources of omega 3 fatty acids from what I've read.
Distillation processes vary. Molecular distillation requires a low-temperature vacuum distillation process, which literally lifts the EPA and DHA away from the fish oil residue. This concentrating process further ensures an omega 3 supplement free of any potential contaminants.
Two of the most informative books on these oils I can think of are THE OMEGA 3 CONNECTION by Dr. Andrew Stoll and FATS THAT HEAL FATS THAT KILL by Udo Erasmus.
If you can find a product that is pharmeutical grade, molecularly distilled and the fish are caught off the coast of Norway you have the best fish oil possible. Maybe I should apply for a job at Nordic Naturals, huh?
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