Flax seed oil, fish oil and CLA - Do I need all three? - Vitamins & Supplements Message Board

CCmakes3 · 09-14-2003, 08:11 PM

Hi,
I've been taking either flax seed oil OR Fish oil for about a year now -- I kind of alternate them because it seems like they kind of fulfill the same purpose. Recently, I've started taking CLA to help with my weight loss efforts, although I have to admit I don't know much about this supplement. What I'm wondering is, does it also have Omega-3's in it, or if not, does it have other substances that do the same thing? I don't know if I should continue taking my flax seed oil and/or fish oil, because the CLA is also an oil, and all of these oil-based capsules have calories in them which could add up by the end of the day! Anyone know?

ramsemonius · 09-15-2003, 05:42 PM

I would take all three. CLA doesn't have Omega-3 EFA's. Fish oil has many more proven benefits than Flax oil, not to say Flax oil is not good for you. Fish oil EFA's are different than Flax's (22 carbon vs. 18 carbon), and are more directly utilized. One study showed that it takes many months, maybe a year or two for the body's enzyme systems to adapt to efficiently convert the EFA's in Flax to the equivalents in Fish oil. Thats that facts jack. Hope helps.

-Ramsemonius

CCmakes3 · 09-15-2003, 09:43 PM

Very helpful! Thanks!