ask: Fish oil and flax seed oil

Fish oil naturally contains an enzyme (delta 6-desaturase) that helps our bodies properly digest and absorb omega-3 fatty acids(fish and flaxseed oils). Flaxseed does not contain this enzyme. For this reason I always recommend a fish oil omega-3. The only time I would prescribe the flaxseed oil omega-3 would be if the patient is a vegetarian and/or vegan and cannot take a fish-based product.

Dr.Susan
http://www.lakeshorewellnesscenter.com

Good Answer Dr. Susan,
I would just like to add that fish oil has the good types of omega 3 DHA and EPA. These have most of the health benefits you see all the time. Some are saying that krill oil is better then fish oil. Some of the reason are krill oil is a more sustainable source and it has some great anti oxidants that help make the product more acceptable to the body. To Learn More About Omega 3 -> Krill Oil

While I agree with the need for supplements, as we're typically not getting enough of the essential minerals we need from our foods and for whatever reason, I think flaxseed oil can be beneficial to anyone, not just vegetarians, for the omega-3 fatty acids. Or, use flax seed or ground flax seed in your baking or on your cereals.

Regardless, I think we could all benefit more from learning to eat real food, taking a good supplement if need be. Were we to take the myriad of supplements suggested by one "expert" or another, the number would be ridiculous.

JMHO - a single multivitamin should be sufficient, for most, I think.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Univ. of Maryland Medical Center

Functional Foods: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, International Food Information Council

While no one is arguing the benefits of omega 3 EFAs, including those found in flaxseed oil, The reality IS that flaxseed DOES NOT contain an important enzyme needed for our bodies to get all the benefits from the omega 3's. Fish oil omega 3's are still superior because they do have that enzyme.

Flaxseed is a great source of omega 3's and fiber, but the question was...what is the difference between Omega-3's found in flax and those of fish origin? Simply stated. Fish is a superior source, but that does not say that flax is not a good source.

Diet is paramount and supplements are just that...SUPPLEMENTS. Unless you are getting WILD caught fish (not farm raised) 3-5 times per week, or the eqivalent of 2000mg combined DHA/EPA per day, you should be supplementing with a good quality omega 3 ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID..."essential" because our bodies cannot make it and we must get it from our diet.

Dr.Susan
http://www.lakeshorewellnesscenter.com

This is all so much help. Thank you so much!! We now have fish oil capsules on our kitchen counter and I understand the issue a little better. I too agree that whole foods are the best, but I know we don't do the best job of that every day, so supplements help us be sure. Thanks so much for your help.

Thanks Dr. Susan.

As a vegetarian, I hear of all the benefits of fish oil and wonder if I'm really missing out on something (there is no way I'd take a fish oil caplet) but knowing flax seed oil can provide similar benefits is great information (that I didn't have before). Flax seed may not be as good as fish oil, but it seems like it provides some very good nutrients nonetheless.

Thank you!

After doing some research on my own I ran into a few articles that brought up the possibility that supplementing with flax seed (ALA) may have had some impact on studies researching the ability of (ALA) to help prevent or treat cancer in both positive and negative ways although (ALA) was not the only factor or variable that was taken into consideration. I have also found studies that have proposed that supplementing with flax seed can affect the possibility of getting and fighting different kinds of cancers in men and women differently (such as it may be a contributing factor to prostate cancer in men or contribute to another type of cancer in women). No study has been conclusive on these findings so supplementing with flax seed (ALA) has basically been left to exist as something that has been shown to have many health benefits but may also assist, prevent, or have no effect on cancer. I simply found this info on my own quest to figure out what the cost benefit of flax seed supplementation was. I currently take flax seed oil gelcaps but after doing more research have begun to second guess that decision.

I figure if the major benefit from taking flax seed is to supply us with DHA and EPA which derive from the parent ALA, then is flax seen really necessary? This is an open question, because I honestly don't know. I just figured I would let anybody who cares to know what I have found myself in this vast expanse of information we know as the internet.

One more thing I learned about fish oil is that it's a blood thinner. My mom learned this the hard way when she ended up in ER for a bloody nose that literally came out of nowhere; Mom never had a bloody nose that anyone could remember. When asked whether she took vitamins or supplements, and she mentioned her fish oil capsules, the ER physician told her to stop taking them.

Just a word of caution, and as Dr. Susan mentioned way up above - there are those who cannot take fish oil, for whatever reason.