Every time I turn around, someone finds a weird process to sell a more concentrated form. It seems that industry standards are not good enough for the consumer. This move is a good sign because it shows that we as consumers are paying some attention to what goes into our supplements.
In the case of fish oil, this process has proven to be quite important. Unfortunately, there’s so much hype and variation that it’s hard to tell what’s refined and what’s not.
The most important thing is to get the dose you need of the nutrient you are looking for. This nutrient is different depending on your result, the expectation or the benefit you hope to receive. In many cases, this benefit is guaranteed.
If you’re trying to prevent heart attacks, then you want to make sure you’re getting plenty of EPA. If you’re trying to slow the growth of potentially cancerous cells, you’ll want to get your fair share of DHA. Most people will want both to maximize the benefits.
First of all, remember that there is actually no such thing as pharmaceutical grade fish oil, or if it does exist, the concept was created by industry standards, and not by a medical organization. Knowing this will help you define the concept of ultra-refined fish oil. Are you looking for a larger dose or just trying to avoid the extra fatty acids you don’t need? There’s nothing wrong with any of these results, as long as you know what to look for.
The omega-3 concentration doesn’t change per se in a given supplement, but the best manufacturers use a process called molecular distillation to separate the molecules you want from the molecules you don’t. This process is simple to understand, but difficult to execute.
For producers using traditional refining, this can be a difficult transition and there is no reason to increase the cost of your product if it will hurt business.
But what about hurting the consumer?
Molecular distillation allows for the production of the most refined fish oil supplements and ensures the highest possible removal of toxins, contaminants and non-omega-3 oil. There may also be advantages to combining the result of this process with other additives, boosting the healthy effects of the omega-3.
Truth be told, the best way to avoid toxins is to determine which species of fish is best for you. The clean environment plays the most important role in deciding which chemicals should be removed from the fish itself. If the fish is in a clean environment, then nature has given it a head start with ultra-refined fish oil.