Pharmaceutical Fish Oil

Pharmaceutical fish oil is, in a nutshell, purified fish oil. This essentially means that the fish oil products with this industry label contains a higher fish oil dosage, virtually free from contaminants, and clinically tested to be a quality fish oil. In fact, as compared to lower, non-pharmaceutical grade fish oil, this type of fish oil concentrate is up to three times more potent and hundreds of times more pure. If it is the best fish oil supplement, why wouldn’t everyone buy fish oil of this grade so as to maximize the fish oil benefits? The answer is amazingly simple: it is sometimes difficult to tell which brand of fish oil supplements are made of pharmaceutical fish oil.

It is important for consumers to not simply take the word of just any fish oil manufacturer when they slap a label on it claiming it is pharmaceutical grade. In fact, because the federal regulatory agencies (such as the Food and Drug Administration) do not regulate the sale of fish oil, often times the consumer is left to either believe the fish oil manufacturers or not. Some fish oil producers will even assert that their product fits the bill of pharmaceutical fish oil merely because is manufactured in a facility certified by the Food and Drug Administration.

Consumers, however, are well advised to research these claims using the research conducted by third party, independent laboratories that are not affiliated with any company manufacturing or selling fish oil. After all, the consumer’s primary concern should be to buy fish oil that allows them to fully experience the health benefits of fish oil. The International Fish Oil Standard (“IFOS”) has been developed by one such laboratory and is relied upon by consumers around the world. Commonly thought to have the most strict testing procedures, their qualification requirements are impressive. And their results (based on a five star method) are open to the public as well, often times being published on the internet shortly after their tests are completed.

Generally speaking, the International Fish Oil Standard requires that fish oil meeting their pharmaceutical grade standard must contain a combined DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acid total of more than sixty percent. As related to contaminants and pollutants, this standard mandates that the fish oil supplements contain fewer PCBs, dioxin and furan than the standards set by CRN and the World Health Organization. Finally, this IFOS standard demands extremely low oxidation tolerance.

As a result, if fish oil pills contain the IFOS “pharmaceutical fish oil” gold standard label, there is little doubt that they are made of quality fish oil. The fish oil dose of DHA and EPA is high potency fish oil; the oxidation is slight; and the PCBs, dioxins, heavy metals and other contaminants removed. Keep in mind, however, that this process is extensive and expensive, the cost of which is typically passed on the consumer in the form of higher prices.

With that said, when you buy fish oil supplements, you should by pharmaceutical fish oil supplements. You want to insure that you are consuming only the best fish oil so that you can obtain the essential omega-3 fatty acids that your body cannot produce on its own.

Unfortunately, lower grade fish oils, unlike pharmaceutical fish oil, do not taste good and often leave the consumer with the fish burps or an extremely unpleasant fishy aftertaste. Generally speaking, pharmaceutical fish oil products taste good and do not cause the fish oil side effects such as gastrointestinal discomfort and fish oil repeat.

As alluded to above, many fish oil supplements on the market today claim to be purified fish oil and even pharmaceutical grade fish oil. However, these claims are based on an anonymous “standard” or the non-descript “no detectable” toxins disclaimer. Because the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate these fish oil concentrates because they are “supplements” as opposed to “drugs,” these unscrupulous fish oil manufacturers are left to essentially claim what they want to claim. Accordingly, if you are looking to purchase pharmaceutical fish oil supplements, do yourself a favor and look for the International Fish Oil Standard seal of approval on its website. If the fish oil supplement is not rated as a 5 star quality fish oil, do not buy it and purchase one that is.

One of the most popular fish oil supplements in the world is Xtend Life Fish Oil. These fish oil products are claims to be the “best, purest and safest omega-3 fish oil supplement available” on the market today.

Regarding these claims, Xtend Life Fish Oil focuses on several guidelines associated with pharmaceutical fish oil. First, the fish oil must be pure fish oil. This fish oil supplement is made from two main sources. The first half is made from natural New Zealand hoki oil harvested from fish located in of the coast of New Zealand where exposure to contaminants and heavy metals has been virtually non-existent. The second fifty percent is made up of tuna caught in the South Pacific, which is then molecularly distilled and purified.

Second, the fish oil must be fresh. Generally speaking, many subpar fish oil manufacturers simply add a ton of additives and flavoring to mask just how rancid their fish oil really is. Although Xtend Life Fish Oil does not contain additives or flavoring, their fish oil products are guaranteed not to give you the fish oil side effects of “fish burps” or “fish repeats.”

Third, this fish oil product is available in natural form (i.e., a natural triglyceride or ethyl ester form) as opposed to a synthetic triglyceride form.

Finally, and most importantly, Xtend-Life Fish Oil is extremely packed with DHA omega-3 fatty acids, commonly referred to as the most valuable component of fish oil.

Legal Disclaimer: The statements and information upon this website have not necessarily been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The products featured are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consumers should always consult their own medical practitioner(s) with any medical or health concerns before starting any new diet, product or supplement.