My kid smells like fish oil!

[newshound]

We're giving our 7-year old Nordic Naturals Strawberry Flavor fish oil for kids. The gels smell like strawberry, but everything my son wears ends up with a fishy smell. We have to do his laundry separately! And he complains that his toothbrush smells like fish. (it does)
Anybody else have this problem?

[catatonic]

We haven't had any problem with fishy smell, so I can only guess here, but...are you giving the fish oil with food to dilute it some, as well as with vitamin E? Generally, fish or fish oils will smell when they begin to oxidize (the early stage of going rancid). Consuming Vitamin E along with the fish oil protects against rancidity and free radical damage and you should always do this, even if you aren't having any problems with fishy smell. Also make sure you're storing the fish oil properly (in the refrigerator) to slow the oxidation process. Before you do this, smell the oil in the bottle. If it has an odor, replace it. It shouldn't smell.

[newshound]

Actually, I have not been giving it with vitamin E. It's enough of a chore to get him to take these gels, and they taste good. Unless I can find vitamin E that also tastes good. I usually give them after breakfast. Sometimes at night, it's before he goes to bed. Maybe I'll give it to him after dinner. I also haven't been storing it in the fridge. But I really am serious about the smell! I am kind of surprised other people have not experienced this.

[catatonic]

How much fish oil is he taking? Sometimes, at very high doses, people notice a fishy body odor. It's a side effect always mentioned in reference material on fish oil supplements, but always in conjunction with high doses. Could this be a factor?

[newshound]

He takes four of the softgels/day... which is what is recommended.

Each 4 capsule serving provides:
DHA: 140 mg Vitamin A: 176-390 IU
EPA: 90 mg Vitamin D: 0-8 IU
other Omega-3: 50 mg Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols): 2 IU