Need Omega 3 advice - Vitamins & Supplements Message Board

HealthAddict · 09-27-2005, 04:00 PM

I'm currently taking some Omega 3 capsules (4-5 a day), and the amounts are listed below:

4 capsules typically provide:

EPA: minimum 680mg (34%)
DHA: minimum 480mg (24%)
GLA: minimum 200mg (40%)
Natural Vitamin E

Today I found another Omega 3 supplement, and the amounts for that are shown below:

One 500mg vegetable capsule contains:

FISH OIL 330mg, of which pure EPA 300mg (90%concentrate)
EPO100mg of which 12% GLA
VITAMIN E 15mg
ZERO DHA

Comparing the 2 supplements the second one definately looks more potent, and it's highly recommended on many webs sites. However, the second supplement contains no DHA whatsoever. So my questions are:

1) How important is DHA, and do I even need to supplement DHA?

2) With the second supplement it says 'EPO100mg of which 12% GLA', does this mean I will have the correct omega 3:6 ratio, or do I need to buy an Omega 6 supplement seperately?

3) If I take very high doses of Omega 3 for extended periods of time and then I stop taking them due to money problems, would I get withdrawal symptoms, etc?

Kime · 09-29-2005, 08:07 PM

I don't know about numbers one and two, but it is not a good idea to take very high doses of omega 3 oils because the body needs a balance between the amount of 3's, 6's, and 9's, and taking too much of the 3's can put the ratio to the 6's out of balance and you can get symptoms from that. I don't think you could get withdrawal symptoms in any case from taking it and then stopping, but would probably be better for you to just take a moderate amount. What do you mean by very high doses and why do you want to take such high doses, assuming they are high?

Lenin · 10-01-2005, 06:22 AM

Addict,

Unfortunately for pill #2, DHA is by far the most important of the Omega-3 oils, vis-a-vie healthy coronatry arteries.

Go with pill #1...behind CURTAIN #3???