Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of oily fish. Natural olive oil Synthetic motor oil An oil is any substance that is in a viscous liquid state (oily) at ambient temperatures or slightly warmer, and is both hydrophobic (immiscible with water, literally water fearing) and lipophilic (miscible with other oils, literally fat loving). This general definition includes compound classes... Biological tissue is a collection of interconnected cells that perform a similar function within an organism. ... Oily fish (oil-rich fish, pelagic fish) are those fish which have oils throughout the fillet and in the belly cavity around the gut, rather than only in the liver like white fish. ...

Fish oil is recommended for a healthy diet because it contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), precursors to eicosanoids that reduce inflammation throughout the body Omega-3 fatty acids are a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids which have in common a carbon-carbon double bond in the ω-3 position. ... Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA or also icosapentaenoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid. ... Docosahexaenoic acid (commonly known as DHA; 22:6(ω-3), all-cis-docosa-4,7,10,13,16,19-hexaenoic acid; trivial name cervonic acid) is an omega-3 essential fatty acid. ... In biochemistry, eicosanoids are a class of oxygenated hydrophobic hormones that largely function as paracrine mediators. ... An abscess on the skin, showing the redness and swelling characteristic of inflammation. ...

However, fish do not actually produce omega-3 fatty acids, but instead accumulate them from consuming microalgae that produce these fatty acids, as well as from eating other fish that have accumulated them. Fatty fish like mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, but these species are often predators, which can accumulate toxic substances due to their position at the top of the food chain (See biomagnification). For this reason, the FDA recommends limiting consumption of fish due to high levels of toxic contaminants such as mercury, dioxin, PCBs and Chlordane.^[1] Due to this limitation, many people have turned to fish oil supplements to get adequate omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids which have in common a carbon-carbon double bond in the ω-3 position. ... Microalgae are the most primitive form of plants. ... Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of fish, mostly, but not exclusively, from the family Scombridae. ... Binomial name Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum, 1792) Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. ... Species Clupea alba Clupea bentincki Clupea caspiopontica Clupea chrysotaenia Clupea elongata Clupea halec Clupea harengus Clupea inermis Clupea leachii Clupea lineolata Clupea minima Clupea mirabilis Clupea pallasii Clupea sardinacaroli Clupea sulcata Herrings are small oily fish of the genus Clupea found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Atlantic... Sardines can refer to: The plural of sardine, a species of fish. ... Binomial name Thunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre, 1788) The albacore (Thunnus alalunga) is an important food fish, a type of tuna (family Scombridae). ... Illustration of a male Coho Salmon The Chinook or King Salmon is the largest salmon in North America and can grow to 1. ... Omega-3 fatty acids are a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids which have in common a carbon-carbon double bond in the ω-3 position. ... This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... Toxic redirects here, but this is also the name of a song by Britney Spears; see Toxic (song) Look up toxic and toxicity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Biomagnification is a similar but distinct concept from bioaccumulation. ... General Name, Symbol, Number mercury, Hg, 80 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 6, d Appearance silvery Standard atomic weight 200. ... Space-filling model of 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin Structure of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Dioxin is the popular name for the family of halogenated organic compounds, the most common consisting of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In the United States, a dietary supplement is defined under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 as a product taken by the mouth that contains a dietary ingredient that is intended as a supplement to the diet. ... Omega-3 fatty acids are a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids which have in common a carbon-carbon double bond in the ω-3 position. ...

Fish oil supplements have sometimes come under scrutiny in recent years. In early 2006, government agencies such as the Food Standards Agency in the UK and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland reported PCB levels that exceeded the strict new European maximum limits in several fish oil brands,^{[2] [3]} which required temporary withdrawal of these brands. To address the growing concern over contaminated fish oil supplements, the International Fish Oil Standards program, a voluntary review process was created at University of Guelph. The Food Standards Agency is a non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom. ... The University of Guelph is a medium-sized university located in Guelph, Ontario, established in 1964. ...

Benefits of fish oil

Some experts believe that taking fish oil (in any form) can help regulate cholesterol in the body, because fish oil has high levels of Omega 3. The regulation occurs through effects of the EPA and DHA constituents on Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα). Besides cholesterol regulation, benefits include anti-inflammatory properties and positive effects on body composition. However, the preferred source of Omega 3 should be from the fish's body, not the liver. The liver and liver products (such as cod liver oil ) of fish and many animals (such as seals and whales) contain Omega-3, but also the active form of Vitamin A. At high levels, this form of the vitamin can be dangerous. Early explorers to the land of the Inuit were given raw liver by the natives, which contained a toxic overdose of Vitamin A for the white explorers; however, the same amount was harmless to the Inuit, who had no other source of Vitamin A except animal livers. Cholesterol is a sterol (a combination steroid and alcohol) and a lipid found in the cell membranes of all body tissues, and transported in the blood plasma of all animals. ... Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids found in certain fish tissues, and in vegetable sources such as flax seeds, walnuts, and canola oil. ... PPAR gamma In cell biology, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a group of nuclear receptor isoforms that exist across biology. ... Capsules of Cod Liver Oil Cod liver oil, as its name suggests, is an oil extracted from cod livers. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Inuit (disambiguation). ...

Some studies^[4] were conducted on prisoners in England where the inmates were fed seafood which contains Omega-3 Fatty acids. It was observed that the high consumption of these fatty acids led to a drop in the homicide rates. Another study was conducted in Finland where they found that prisoners who were convicted of violence had lower levels of Omega Three Fatty Acids than normal. It was suggested that these kinds of fatty acids are responsible for the neuronal growth of the frontal cortex of the brain which, it is further alleged, is the seat of personal behavior. The frontal lobe is an area in the brains of vertebrates. ...

The American Heart Association recommends the consumption of 1g of fish oil daily, preferably by eating fish, or patients with coronary heart disease.^[5] The American Heart Association (AHA) is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. ... BIC pen cap, about 1 gram. ... Opsophagos was an ancient Greek term used to describe one who exhibited a seemingly uncontrollable desire for fish. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The US National Institutes of Health lists three conditions for which fish oil and other omega-3 sources are most highly recommended (Grade A scientific evidence): Hypertriglyceridemia, Secondary cardiovascular disease prevention and High blood pressure. It then lists 27 other conditions for which there is B or C grade evidence. It also lists possible safety concerns: "Intake of 3 grams per day or greater of omega-3 fatty acids may increase the risk of bleeding, although there is little evidence of significant bleeding risk at lower doses... Very large intakes of fish oil/omega-3 fatty acids ("Eskimo" amounts) may increase the risk of hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke."^[6] The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for medical research. ... In medicine, hypertriglyceridemia (or Hypertriglyceridaemia) denotes high (hyper-) blood levels (-emia) of triglycerides, the most abundant fatty molecule in most organisms. ... Cardiovascular disease refers to the class of diseases that involve the heart and/or blood vessels (arteries and veins). ... Arterial hypertension, or high blood pressure is a medical condition where the blood pressure is chronically elevated. ...

According to a study from Louisiana State University in September 2005, fish oil may help protect the brain from cognitive problems associated with Alzheimer's disease. ^[7] Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge, generally known as Louisiana State University or LSU, is a public, coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the main campus of the Louisiana State University System. ...

Fish oil has also been shown to aid in the treatment of people suffering with depression.^[8]

For purchasing fish oil dietary supplements, it is often recommended to seek a label certifying the product to be distilled, pharmaceutical grade fish oil, and free of mercury and other toxins.

References

1. ^ EPA (2007-01-31). Fish Consumption Advisories. Retrieved on 2007-02-08.
2. ^ Jess Halliday (13/04/2006). Dioxins prompt second UK fish oil withdrawal. Retrieved on 2007-02-08.
3. ^ Pollutants found in fish oil capsules (6 April, 2002). Retrieved on 2007-02-08.
4. ^ STEPHEN MIHM. "Does Eating Salmon Lower the Murder Rate?", NYTimes, April 16, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-08. 
5. ^ Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. American Heart Association. Retrieved on 2007-02-09 hhmm.
6. ^ NIH Medline Plus. MedlinePlus Herbs and Supplements: Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid. Retrieved on 2006-02-14.
7. ^ Walter J. Lukiw (2005-06-28). "A role for docosahexaenoic acid–derived neuroprotectin D1 in neural cell survival and Alzheimer disease". J. Clin. Invest 115: 2774-2783. DOI:10.1172/JCI25420. Retrieved on 2007-02-09. 
8. ^ John McKenzie. ABC News: Fish Oil Helps Treat Depression. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.

2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 14 is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ...

External links

• EPA Fish Consumption Advisories
• Fish oil discussion group
• International Fish Oil Standards
  • An organization concerned with the quality of omega-3 products as it relates to the international standards established by the World Health Organization and the Council For Responsible Nutrition for purity and concentration.
• Joyce A. Nettleton, ed. PUFA Newsletter. Retrieved on February 20, 2006. Two newsletters, both quarterly, reviewing recent publications in essential fatty acids. One is written for researchers, the second is for consumers. Industry sponsored, academic contributors.
• Clover, Charles. 2004. The End of the Line: How overfishing is changing the world and what we eat. Ebury Press, London. ISBN 0-09-189780-7