A member asked:

Please share a tip on some do's and don'ts with regard to fish oil.

77 doctors weighed in across 58 answers

Getting: Getting a bad aftertaste with fish oil capsules? Try swallowing them frozen.

Answered 4/4/2013

5.3k views

Thank

Get: Get a good night sleep, take fish oil, move through the day, learn to deal skillfully with stress.

Answered 6/22/2014

5.3k views

Thank
Dr. Steven Charlap answered

Specializes in Holistic Medicine

Don't: Don't take fish oil pills if you can eat wild salmon, wild trout, wild sardines, wild herring, etc.

Answered 4/4/2013

5.3k views

Thank

Less: Less carbohydrates and more fish oil supplements may help promote one's health and skin condition.

Answered 5/7/2014

5.2k views

Thank

Omega: Omega 3 fish oil may help with dry eye symptoms.

Answered 6/20/2014

5.2k views

Thank
Dr. Scott J. Wolfson answered

Specializes in Pediatrics

Check: Check the source of your choice of fish oil product. I recommend incorporating wild fish into diets.

Answered 4/9/2013

5.2k views

Thank

Do: Do look up the evidence for what it does. Don't believe marketing claims or hearsay.

Answered 9/29/2016

5.2k views

Thank
Dr. Thomas Namey answered

Specializes in Rheumatology

Great: Great for you. Omega-3s with dha. Brain food! anti-inflammtory. Improves triglycerides. Eat more!

Answered 6/22/2013

5.2k views

Thank
Dr. Thomas Namey answered

Specializes in Rheumatology

Omega-3s: Omega-3s from krill oil contains no heavy metal contaminants that can be found in other fish oils!

Answered 7/24/2014

5.2k views

Thank
Dr. Rafael Lugo answered

Specializes in General Surgery

No: No supplement beats the real thing. Eat fish at least twice a week!

Answered 3/6/2015

5.2k views

Thank

Fish: Fish oil provides epa and is anti-inflammatory. It should be taken with gla from evening primrose oil.

Answered 4/18/2014

5.2k views

Thank
Dr. Thomas Namey answered

Specializes in Rheumatology

Eat: Eat the fish! the oil with omega-3 in the fish is free!

Answered 6/2/2014

5.2k views

Thank
Dr. John Baker answered

Specializes in Neurology

Take: Take fish oil supplement from a reputable brand (nature's made, way, etc) and with food/meal.

Answered 7/6/2013

5.2k views

Thank
Dr. Jack Farr answered

Specializes in Orthopedic Surgery

Fish: Fish oil: buy from trusted source, consider triglyceride form instead of ester form. Consider refrigerating.

Answered 4/25/2016

5.2k views

Thank

It's: It's good for your health, but stop it a week before surgery or injections, as it increases bruising.

Answered 1/22/2018

5.2k views

Thank
Dr. William Haynes answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine - Endocrinology

Prescription: Prescription (lovaza) or otc fish oil containing 3600 mg epa+dha will lower triglycerides 40-60%.

Answered 9/29/2016

5.1k views

Thank
Dr. Peter Ihle answered

Specializes in Orthopedic Surgery

Do: Do take them as directed or suggested by your doctor.

Answered 11/27/2017

5.1k views

Thank

There: Myth: there is little evidence that fish oil "lubricates" painful joints. It is probably not useful.

Answered 1/1/2017

5.1k views

Thank
Dr. Guy DaSilva answered

Specializes in Endocrinology

Don't: Don't buy fish oil that doesn't give the epa/dha levels and state that there is zero mercury ppt.

Answered 9/29/2016

5.1k views

Thank
Dr. John Michalski answered

Specializes in Orthopedic Surgery

Don't: Don't take excess omega if on blood thinners.

Answered 9/29/2016

5.1k views

Thank

Fish: Fish oil is not without risk. It may thin the blood and cause increased risk of bleeding.

Answered 9/29/2016

5.1k views

Thank

All: All fish oils are not created equally.

Answered 3/28/2014

5.1k views

Thank
Dr. Tod Haller answered

Specializes in Ophthalmology

People: People mistakenly think it's for everyone and has no potential adverse effects. Talk to your doctor.

Answered 9/29/2016

5.1k views

Thank
Dr. Steven Charlap answered

Specializes in Holistic Medicine

Don't: Don't just get your fish oil from pills. Get it from wild alaskan salmon.

Answered 8/30/2014

5k views

Thank
Dr. Randy Stevens answered

Specializes in General Surgery

Fish: Fish oil is only part of the fish. Fish oil alone is only part of your therapy.

Answered 3/18/2014

5k views

Thank
Dr. Thomas Wright answered

Specializes in Phlebology

Lake: Lake trout, tuna, and salmon all have lots of healthy omega-3 fish oil.

Answered 3/18/2014

5k views

Thank

Do: Do take fish oil daily, but be sure to tell your doctor if you start fish oil.

Answered 5/22/2014

4.9k views

Thank
Dr. Thomas Wright answered

Specializes in Phlebology

Diets: Diets rich in fatty fish may protect against rheumatoid arthritis. Supplements were inconsistent.

Answered 7/19/2018

4.9k views

Thank
Dr. Soren Singel answered

Specializes in Neurosurgery

Fish: Fish oil is extracted from fish scraps. Real fish is better.

Answered 4/9/2015

4.9k views

Thank

3.5Oz: 3.5oz salmon, trout, tuna, sardines, mackerel, mullet, provide 1gr of omega 3 fatty acids.

Answered 8/31/2013

4.9k views

Thank

Myth:: Myth: i can't get enough omega 3 fatty acids from eatings certain types of fish.

Answered 4/22/2014

4.9k views

Thank
Dr. Harold Peltan answered

Specializes in Ophthalmology

Myth:: Myth: taking fish oil will give you fishy smelling breath.

Answered 5/29/2014

4.9k views

Thank
Dr. Harold Peltan answered

Specializes in Ophthalmology

Don't: Don't take excessive doses for a long time.

Answered 7/24/2014

4.9k views

Thank

Use: Use fish oil which is enteric coated, this will avoid the fishy aftertaste.

Answered 9/8/2013

4.9k views

Thank

Taking: Taking fish oil before surgery can make you bleed more and increase the need for transfusion.

Answered 10/16/2013

4.9k views

Thank
Dr. Mohammed Parvez answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

Omega: Omega 3 fatty acids helps in lowering bad cholesterol. Add fish in your diet at least twice weekly.

Answered 6/21/2014

4.9k views

Thank
Dr. Robert Kent answered

Specializes in Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine

Many: Many people don't like fish oil because of the taste, but the odorless capsules work great too!

Answered 4/12/2015

4.9k views

Thank
Dr. Matthew Wosnitzer answered

Specializes in Urology

Omega-3: Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce cancer/heart disease-but too much could increase prostate cancer risk.

Answered 4/24/2015

4.9k views

Thank
Dr. Marsha Davis answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

Do: Do take a good quality fish oil with food but not on an fpty stomach or you will burp a fishy taste.

Answered 10/19/2013

4.9k views

Thank

Take: Take fish oil with lowfat milk to decrease the reflux "fish burps".

Answered 5/8/2016

4.9k views

Thank

Don't: Don't take fish oil if you are on Coumadin (warfarin) without discussing it with your doctor.

Answered 12/21/2014

4.9k views

Thank
Dr. Keith Ramsey answered

Specializes in Pediatrics - Adolescent Medicine

Stop: Stop taking your fish oil supplement 2 weeks before surgery, because of the increased bleeding risk.

Answered 9/29/2016

4.8k views

Thank

Ignore: Can take fish oil, or krill oil supplements to help your diet if you don't eat fish.

Answered 11/16/2013

4.7k views

Thank

Ignore: When selecting fish oil supplements, make sure u verify quality of product. A USP labeling reassures.

Answered 1/15/2015

4.7k views

Thank

Ignore: Ask your physician before taking as has been associated w prostate cancer.

Answered 12/9/2013

4.7k views

Thank
Dr. Marsha Davis answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

Stop: Stop fish oil supplements 5-7 days befor a surgery as they can't promote bleeding.

Answered 12/15/2013

4.7k views

Thank
Dr. Marsha Davis answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

Ignore: It's a myth that: if you take fish oil capsultes, you don't need fish in your diet.

Answered 1/11/2014

4.7k views

Thank
Dr. Oscar Novick answered

Specializes in Pediatrics

Ignore: Fish oil may be over hyped. Consult your doctor for a knowledgeable answer.

Answered 1/6/2014

4.6k views

Thank
Dr. Rupesh Parikh answered

Specializes in Medical Oncology

Ignore: Don't use fish oils if you are at risk for getting prostate cancer.

Answered 1/16/2014

4.6k views

Thank
Dr. Milton Alvis, jr answered

Specializes in Preventive Medicine

EPA: Epa ; dha are produced by phytoplankton, not fish-humans just collect from fish meat for lower cost.

Answered 2/1/2014

4.5k views

Thank
Dr. Martin Fried answered

Specializes in Nutrition

Do: Do buy wild fish instead of farm-raised fish for higher levels of healthy fish oils.

Answered 8/11/2015

4.5k views

Thank

Ignore: Don't take fish oil unless you have cardiac risk factors.

Answered 2/26/2014

4.4k views

Thank
Dr. Jan Lei Iwata answered

Specializes in Ophthalmology

Ignore: Not all fish oils are created equal.

Answered 3/31/2014

4.3k views

Thank
Dr. Sue Ferranti answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

Ignore: Fish oil can decrease triglyceride levels. Have your doc check your levels after adding fish oil!

Answered 9/28/2016

4k views

Thank

Ignore: Quality if fish oil supplements is variable. Microdistilled products have less heavy metal load.

Answered 7/4/2014

3.9k views

Thank
Dr. Linda Tao answered

Specializes in Cardiology

Ignore: Get the best quality you can since the fish oil can have impurities and also get oxidised.

Answered 12/13/2014

3.4k views

Thank

Ignore: Fish oil supplements often contain small amounts of vitamin E to prevent spoilage.

Answered 12/31/2014

3.4k views

Thank

Ignore: Try to avoid consuming them with coffee or carbonated beverage- will result in belching.

Answered 7/30/2015

2.5k views

Thank

Related Questions

A member asked:

Please describe the true benefits of taking fish oil supplements?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

What is fish oil?

5 doctors weighed in across 3 answers

A member asked:

Is fish oil harmful?

11 doctors weighed in across 4 answers

A member asked:

Is fish oil good for you?

9 doctors weighed in across 5 answers