Fish Oil, Ultra Pure 360 EPA/240 DHA

Each softgel capsule contains:
100% Pure Fish Oil      1,200mg 
(Providing 360 mg EPA and 240 mg DHA ) 
Independently tested for triple rancidity (peroxides, anisidines, acid value), mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, EPA and DHA levels, PCBs, dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, stability, and bacteria, yeast and mold counts. 

Suggested Dosage:
1-3 capsules 2-3 times daily or as directed by your healthcare professional. 

Additional Information:

This fish oil product contains EPA and DHA, which are omega-3 essential fatty acids, or EFAs. They are "essential" because you must have them for life, and your body cannot manufacture them. You must obtain them from your diet.

EFAs serve as a highly efficient source of energy and as the primary component of cell membranes and hormones. Deficiencies in EFAs are associated with abnormal development and health problems involving the nervous, cardiovascular, and immune systems.

The two most important EFAs in human health are omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The typical American consumes too much omega-6 sand not enough omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oil contains high levels of omega 3 fatty acids.

Omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory whereas some other fatty acids are pro-inflammatory. For example, arachadonic fatty acid is pro-inflammatory. Arachidonic acid dominates the average diet (meat and dairy), and without omega 3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, this balance tips in favor of inflammation, pain, and blood vessel constriction.

Fish Oil Benefits for PCOS

Women with PCOS have a number of symptoms that can be partially alleviated by omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil:
• Insulin resistance
• Chronic inflammation
• Higher risk of heart disease
• High blood pressure
• High blood fats (high triglycerides)
• Higher risk of diabetes
• Depression
• Stress

Insulin Resistance.  Insulin resistance is a primary cause of PCOS. It's not established that fish oil can directly reduce insulin resistance. However, there is one study of 12 overweight men and women who had insulin resistance. They were given DHA (a component of fish oil) for 12 weeks. 70% of the participants showed a decrease in insulin resistance.  In rats, insulin resistance was reduced by substituting fish oil for vegetable and animal fats in their diet.

Inflammation. Women with PCOS have a greater tendency toward inflammation than other women. There is also an association between insulin resistance and inflammation.  A primary value of fish oil is that is helps to reduce inflammation.

Heart Disease.  Among women, a higher consumption of omega-3 fatty acids is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease.

High blood pressure.  Omega 3 oils may help to reduce hypertension.

High Triglycerides.  Many women with PCOS have high triglycerides, a blood fat that indicates insulin problems that could lead eventually to diabetes. Fish oil has consistently been shown to lower triglycerides.

Diabetes Risk.  Omega 3 oils can reduce the risk of diabetes by reducing triglycerides without impairing glucose tolerance.  It improves the rate of glycogen storage and enhances insulin secretion from beta cells in the pancreas.  Both of these actions improve glucose and insulin control.

Depression. Decreased omega-3 fatty acid consumption correlates with increasing rates of depression.

Stress. Chronic stress leads to overproduction of the stress hormone cortisol, which in turn increases insulin resistance. Fish oil blunts the "stress response".

All in all, omega 3 fish oil is likely to be beneficial to women with PCOS and ovarian cysts.

Purified Fish Oil Can Reduce Heart Attack Risk in Women

Did you know that heart disease is the #1 cause of death of women in the U.S., whether they have PCOS or not? And women with PCOS have a significantly increased risk of developing heart disease compared to other women.

So anything that will help your heart and circulation is a good thing to do. A healthy diet and daily exercise are obviously basic requirements for a healthy heart. There are also supplements that can be helpful, such as fish oil.

Medical research continues to report that the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA (found in fish oil) result in a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. For example, the Harvard School of Public Health recently released a study showing that women who consumed the highest levels of these fatty acids had at least a 50% reduction in their risk of heart attack, compared to those consuming the lowest amounts.

Purified Fish Oil Is Good for Your Liver

Women with PCOS have a very high prevalence of NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). Nearly one of every two women with PCOS appears to have this liver disease.

A dysfunctional liver is a big problem because a healthy liver is required to properly metabolize hormones, in addition to its many other functions that are absolutely critical to your good health.

A very interesting study was recently published by the University of Florence in Italy showing that long-term consumption of fish oil helps people who have NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease).

In this study there were 56 NAFLD individuals who took omega-3 oil daily for one year, and 14 NAFLD individuals who did not take any omega-3 oil. The omega-3 oil was consumed as a 1 gram capsule of EPA/DHA.

Those who consumed the omega-3 oil showed a significant decrease in lab markers for liver disease. Their triglycerides and blood sugar also went down. But what was most interesting was that sonic scans of their livers showed an improvement in the structural integrity of the liver.

If you have NAFLD and do not deal with it, it can develop into a more serious condition is called "nonalcoholic steatohepatitis" or NASH.

Fortunately, the Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan has reported that EPA, a component of fish oil, improves the livers of people who have NASH.

A highly purified EPA was given in high doses for 12 months. Liver inflammation dropped significantly. Liver biopsies proved that the livers were healthier.

The researchers concluded: "EPA treatment seems to be safe and efficacious for patients with NASH, largely due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties."

By the way, women with fatty liver disorders tend to be low in the omega-3 fats found in fish oil. So this group especially needs fish oil. We recommend that you take fish oil indefinitely, regardless of whether you know you have liver disease or not, and regardless of whether you are lean or overweight.

In addition, EPA/DHA omega-3 oils such as fish oil may also be beneficial for other PCOS-related symptoms such as depression or acne.

Toxicity and Drug Interactions

Fish oil, especially in large doses over a period of time, may have a blood-thinning effect.  If you're on a blood thinning medication (aspirin, coumadin, etc.), consult with your physician before taking fish oil.

Fish have no refuge from environmental pollution and most have become contaminated to some extent with mercury, dioxins, and other petrochemicals. When oil is extracted from fish, the chemicals come along with the oil. In addition, if too much heat is used during processing, free radical peroxides will be present in the oil. Therefore you should be very selective when purchasing any oil product.

Buy fish oil only from reputable companies.  This product has been verified by independent laboratory analysis to be free of chemical contamination and peroxides.

How Much Should You Take?

The amount of fish oil you need depends on your diet and health status. 

EPA/DHA fish oil supplementation will benefit most women. We recommend that you take supplemental EPA/DHA fish oil on a long-term basis if you do not consume fish at least several times a week.