What is Pharmaceutical Fish Oil?

Pharmaceutical fish oil is a term used for high potency fish oil supplements that contain high levels of the omega 3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

These oils have undergone a special manufacturing process to ensure they don't exceed specific levels of mercury, PCB's, dioxins and other contaminants.

One popular method to make high potency fish oils is called molecular distillation. This is a process where the oil is distilled in a high vacuum at the lowest possible temperature. The end products are called molecularly distilled fish oils and they are highly purified with high levels of omega 3 fatty acids.

You should know that the term "pharmaceutical-grade” is not really a regulated classification so some manufacturers may abuse this term when marketing their fish oils.

The majority of 'true' pharmaceutical-grade fish oils will meet the purity and quality standards set by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN). The CRN Fish Oil Monograph is apparently an internationally accepted standard that sets specific limits for product quality and purity. The CRN believes that any fish oil that meets or exceeds these standards is qualified to use the term "pharmaceutical grade". But this doesn't mean the CRN has the authority or power to stop a manufacturer from using this term because it isn't trademarked.

How Do You Know if You're Using Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil?

One of the best ways to determine the grade of your fish oil is check the IFOS list of fish oils or look for a Certificate of Analysis.

The IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards) is a Canadian company that tests fish oils from all over the world. They use a third-party testing lab to determine the actual amount of omega 3 fatty acids, detectable levels of mercury, PCB's and dioxins, and the overall purity level of the fish oil.

The IFOS publishes a report showing these test results and grades the oils on specific criteria. A fish oil receiving 5 Stars is said to be a high quality pharmaceutical-grade fish oil.

The criteria used by the IFOS to determine if a product is pharmaceutical-grade are:

• Must contain minimum 60% EPA and DHA concentrations.
• Oxidation levels must be less than the 75% standard set forth by the Council of Responsible Nutrition (CRN).
• PCB levels must less than 50% of the CRN standard.
• Dioxin and Furan Levels less Than 50% of World Health Organization Standard.

Additional criteria used to classify pharmaceutical-grade fish oils are:

• Must be made according to "pharmaceutical standards" that ensures the oil is free of environmental contaminants, heavy metals, lipid peroxides, and other harmful substances.
• Ratio of omega-3 fatty acids to arachidonic acid must be greater than 50:1.
• Must contain an optimal amount of natural vitamin E as a preservative.
• Must be manufactured in a facility that's been certified Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) which is approved for pharmaceutical products.

The IFOS is a third-party testing company that doesn't receive compensation from fish oil companies so their results are considered reliable and unbiased.

You may find pharmaceutical fish oil supplements not listed on the IFOS website. There should be some sort of method to validate these claims; either by a Certificate of Analysis or by some type of third-party laboratory testing.

You should know that testing with the IFOS is voluntary and the fish oil manufacturer doesn't have to test every single batch of fish oil they produce. Another thing I found was manufacturers aren't required to post any batches that test poorly. So you still need to research the product you're interested in using.

One product I like is Nutra Sea High Potency Fish Oil. It's made in Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada by a company called Ascenta Health. Each bottle of Nutra Sea comes with its own batch number on the ingredient label. You can enter this batch number on the Ascenta Health company website and it will show you the actual test results for that batch of fish oil in your bottle. It would be nice to see all fish oil manufacturers provide this type of information for their consumers.

Why You Should Use Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil Supplements

These high potency fish oils will give you greater amounts of omega 3 fatty acids and fewer impurities than cheap oils. These qualities will help you achieve the health benefits you seek from these powerful marine oils.

Lower quality oils may not give you the same results as pharmaceutical fish oils. There's also the risk of exposure to rancid oils (due to oxidation) that may cause upset stomach, gas and bloating. Using molecular distilled fish oils may help you avoid these side effects.

A pharmaceutical fish oil may cost more due to more stringent manufacturing procedures not found in lower grade oils.

Examples of Pharmaceutical Fish Oils

Now that you know about pharmaceutical-grade fish oils, you might be wondering what brands are available.

Companies such as Nordic Naturals Fish Oils, Carlson Labs and Dr. Sears Fish Oils all produce high potency fish oils that received high marks on the IFOS website. Another fish oil I like is Nutra Sea High Potency Fish Oil for reasons I discussed above.

You can find these and over a dozen other high potency fish oils on my webpage about IFOS Fish Oils.

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