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Fish oil supplements have become the number one supplement choice for Americans primarily due to their high content of omega 3 fatty acids which are known to benefit health in many ways. In March 2010, however, the prestigious position that fish oil supplements enjoyed was suddenly shaken when eight fish oil supplement companies were hit with a lawsuit by the Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation and two environmentalists from Nueva Jersey for detectable amounts of PCBs present in your brand of fish. oil supplements. Since then, many consumers have been thinking twice about taking these supplements. With over 100 brands of fish oil on the market, how concerned should we be about the quality of these supplements?
This lawsuit has sparked heated controversy and, before being swayed by either party, the facts must be carefully weighed against the findings. Here’s an objective view to help you separate the facts from the media hype.
What are PCBs?
Polychlorinated biphenyl compounds, or PCBs, are industrial chemicals. PCBs do not degrade easily and are present in all parts of the environment.
PCBs were used as an insulating material for transformers and capacitors. In 1979, Congress banned PCBs. In 2001, a global ban on PCBs was imposed by a UN treaty. PCBs are linked to degenerative diseases, birth defects, and damage to the nervous system, among a long list of other adverse health effects. Scientists have yet to determine safe amounts for consumption of PCBs and therefore controversy reigns.
The bottom
Under California State Law (California Proposition 65), people should not be exposed to more than 90 nanograms of PCBs per day. Since safe consumption levels for PCBs have not been determined, California law requires companies to warn consumers if their capsules contain detectable amounts of PCBs. The lawsuit is based on a California law that “prohibits companies from deliberately exposing people to the listed substances without providing a clear and reasonable warning.” [Source:Wikipedia]
The specifics
- California Proposition 65 follows a more conventional standard than the rest of the states. Even the Federal Drug Administration directive sets the tolerance level for PCBs at 2 parts per million. This is a higher safe consumption level than California’s 90 nanograms per day rule.
- The supplements found to be contaminated with more than 90 nanograms of PCBs were mostly cod liver oil or shark liver oil supplements. The liver is the detoxifying organ that filters toxins from the body. If it is derived solely from the liver, it will definitely contain more toxins and must be filtered more carefully.
- The Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation only tested 10 supplements. In August 2008, Consumer Lab, a private third-party laboratory based in New York, conducted independent evaluations of 52 fish oil supplements. According to Consumer Lab, “The good news is that all of the omega-3 supplements in this review and quality rating guide lacked detectable mercury and passed the contamination limits for lead and PCBs.” Out of 52, only 2 failed the test, but it was not because they contained harmful levels of impurities or contaminants.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition declares:
“The bottom line is that consumers, whether they live in California or elsewhere, should continue to have confidence in the safety and efficacy of their fish oil supplements. This lawsuit does not change the solid science behind the many benefits for fish oil. fish oil health, ranging from cardiovascular health to infant and toddler cognitive development, and the very low PCB thresholds that apparently trigger a labeling requirement in California cannot be extrapolated to demonstrate any real risk at those levels. Suggested and Unsupported Risks “.
Choosing high-quality and safe fish oil supplements
Consumers have used fish oil supplements safely for decades. There are no adverse effects associated with consuming fish oil supplements when taken in healthy doses. There is simply no reason for consumers to be alarmed as long as they know for sure that they are taking supplements containing pharmaceutical grade fish oil. This type of supplement contains molecularly distilled fish oil, a process that takes place in a vacuum. Successfully removes heavy metal contaminants and PCBs to make it safe for consumption.
Triple Strength Omega-3s contain fish oil that has been molecularly distilled. It is above 90 percent, which marks the highest level of quality for fish oil supplements on the market. The total concentration of omega 3 fatty acids is 2000 mg per serving and has a total of DHA and EPA of 1200 mg. Triple Strength Omega-3 offers you a safe, high-potency supplement that provides the maximum potential to reap the multiple benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for your health.