Side Effects of Fish Oil: Are Fish Oil Supplements Safe?

Fish oil side effects vary depending upon the brand, the dosage, and the physical condition of the user. The most common side effects are fishy aftertaste, fishy breath, heartburn, burping, upset stomach, nausea, greasy stools and diarrhea. Enteric-coated brands may help some people avoid some of these effects. Also, keeping the supplements in the freezer may reduce the gastrointestinal side effects of fish oil.

Side effects that are more serious include unusual bleeding or bruising, stroke, elevated blood sugar in diabetics, elevated LDL cholesterol and allergic reactions such as rashes, hives, itching, breathing difficulties and trouble swallowing.

Fish oil may deplete Vitamin E in the body, so you might look for formulas than have Vitamin E added. And any oil that's sourced from fish liver can cause Vitamin A toxicity if taken for a long period of time.

Fish Oil-Drug Interactions

Certain medications may interact with fish oil to cause serious side effects including bleeding, excessively low blood pressure and stroke. They include aspirin, ibuprofen, and all prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); plus all blood pressure medications, heparin products, warfarin blood thinners and clopidogrel. As you know, you must consult a healthcare professional if you are taking any drugs before adding any natural supplement.

Toxic Contamination Risks

A great many fish are contaminated with dangerous environmental toxins including mercury, PCBs, dioxins and more. Always read fish oil labels for assurances that their fish oil supplements are free of such substances. Many manufacturers use a molecular distillation purification method, but it does reduce the nutritional value of the delicate omega-3 essential fatty acid molecules.

Inflammation: A Fish Oil Side Effect Rarely Mentioned

First, keep in mind that the typical American diet delivers an overdose of omega-6, mostly from vegetable oils, red meats, fast foods and processed foods. Omega-6 promotes inflammation and is said to be a major culprit behind such conditions as arthritis and joint pain, PMS, heart disease, inflammatory bowel and more. Most fish oil brands pour gasoline on that fire because they contain too high a ratio of omega-6 to omega-3. Even though omega-3 fights inflammation, the typically high ratio of omega-6 reduces fish oil's ability to adequately fight inflammation. The ratio in Neptune Krill Oil is a safe and beneficial¹ 15 parts omega-3 to 1 part omega-6, making NKO a potent inflammation-fighter¹ as proven in clinical testing.

Krill Oil: The Safe and Superior Alternative¹

Don't take either fish or krill oil if you're pregnant or allergic to seafoods or taking blood-thinning medication. If none of this applies, then compare the safety findings for krill oil and explore this site for the details of why krill oil is superior to fish oil in every respect.