Fish Oil Side Effects

The side effects of fish oil include bad breath, belching, gassy stomachs, nausea, heartburn, rashes, nosebleeds and loose stools. Other side effects of fish oil include vitamin poisoning. For this reason, it is unsafe to take high doses.

Taking more than three grams a day keeps blood from clotting and increases the chances of bleeding. Usually, the side effects of fish oil go away after one month. In the event that you are experiencing severe side effects, it is recommended that you see your physician immediately in order to get help switching brands.

High doses also result in the activity of the immune system becoming reduced, which means that your body will not be able to resist infections the way it normally can. This is a concern for elderly patients and those with AIDS or HIV. Large amounts of fish oil increases LDL or “bad” cholesterol in some persons. Fish meat such as king mackerels, sharks and salmon that is farm raised may be mercury-contaminated as well as by other environmental and industrial chemicals, causing poisoning.

Fish oil increases the chances of bleeding among people with liver disease.  People with fish allergies may also develop allergic symptoms to fish oil supplements. Taking fish oil sometimes increases the symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression. High doses of fish oil make it difficult to control blood sugar levels among people with diabetes. Fish oil also increases the risks of acquiring irregular heartbeats in patients who have defibrillator implants.

There is evidence to suggest that the triglyceride-lowering consequences of fish oil are interrupted by birth control pills. These pills include Triphasil or ethinyl estradiol levonorgestrel as well as Ortho Novum or ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone.

Fish oil taken simultaneously with antihypertensive drugs that lower blood pressure increase the effects of the drugs and lowers your blood pressure exceedingly.

Obtained through fish consumption or by ingesting supplements, fish oil is rich in beneficial “good” oil known as omega-3 fatty acid. The two important Omega 3 fatty acids that fish oil contains include EPA or eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA or docosahexaenoic acid. Well documented for having in-vitro anti-inflammatory effects, many health benefits can be acquired from taking fish oil. These include people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Fish oil sources include tuna, mackerel, sturgeon, salmon, bluefish, mullets, sardines, anchovies, trout, herring and varieties of menhaden. In about three and a half ounces of fish there is about one gram of Omega 3 fatty acid.

Supplements of fish oil are made usually from herring, mackerel, tuna, salmon, halibut, whale blubber, cod liver or the blubber of seals. In order to prevent spoilage, these supplements often contain trace amounts of Vitamin E oil as well. In addition, it is also possible to get fish oil supplements that have been combined with iron, calcium or vitamins D, C, B3, B2, B1 or A.

Most often used for treating conditions of the heart and blood, fish oil is also used for lowering triglyceride levels and blood pressure.  Fish oil is also used for asthma, diabetes, movement disorders, coordination development disorders, obesity, osteoporosis or weak bones, psoriases and kidney diseases.