January 6, 2005 – The American organization Consumer Lab, known for the reliability of the tests to which it submits various natural health products, found no trace of mercury in 41 omega-3 fatty acid supplements of marine origin, sold in the USA. In addition, none of the supplements studied contained harmful amounts of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).1.
According to Consumer Lab, the absence of mercury in omega-3 supplements can be explained in several ways: among others, the type of fish used in their manufacture, the accumulation of mercury in the flesh of fish rather than in fat, and the distillation process that would help remove contaminants.
Consumer Lab analysts measured the concentrations of eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), two omega-3 fatty acids for each of the supplements. Only two products did not contain the amounts of EPA and DHA indicated on the label. Only one product was rancid (fish oils and other marine products are susceptible to oxidation and decomposition).
At the request of certain manufacturers, dioxin contamination tests were carried out on their products and all were found to be negative.
Are the omega-3 supplements sold in Canada of the same quality as those sold in our neighbors to the south? “Absolutely,” says Jean-Yves Dionne, pharmacist and consultant. According to him, the quality of the supplements sold here could even be higher. The recently implemented natural health products regulations mean that this type of supplement is now reviewed by Health Canada for safety and purity.
If a concern persists about the freshness or purity of a supplement, Jean-Yves Dionne suggests two small homemade tests that are very easy to perform. “First of all, smell the product: if it has an unpleasant fishy smell, it is better to discard it, because it is probably rancid. Then, place the supplement in the fridge for a few hours: a pure, quality product should remain translucent, ”concludes Mr. Dionne.
Marie france Coutu – PasseportSanté.net
1. Product Review: Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA and DHA) from Fish / Marine Oils To access the study, go to: http://www.consumerlab.com/results/omega3. asp. There are fees.