Fish Oil Supplements and LDL hike?

mg_health

I've been taking fish-oil (Omega-3) pills for years now and they've only improved my results (modestly). However, none of my liver enzyme tests were affected by this intake at all.

My liver enzymes were also, at one time, in the 40s. After taking Milk Thistle pills, they're now in the low 20s.

So, I don't think fish oil pills would impact your liver enzyme results.

Is your AST much lower than your ALT, and if so, by how much?

mg_health

That sounds like a lot - I only take one 1-gram fish oil pill a day. Maybe you're taking too much? Two fish oil pills along with a flax seed diet maybe too much omega fatty acids for your body.

Brendap

My AST was 19 and ALT 24 in October, 2004. This past blood test did not include an AST figure...but this latest test did show a rise in LDL and ALT (as posted above) - along with a slight increase in TC.

To respond to your remark that maybe two fish oil capsules are too much -- the recommended dosage on the bottle is 2 pills per day, and the combined dose of these two pills is 1 gram. So I am only taking one gram per day of fish oil.
Thanks,

Brenda

Uff-Da!

When I first tested high for cholesterol, my doctor told me to take three grams of fish oil caps a day, or flax oil caps if I was too bothered by fish oil burps. From what I've read elsewhere, as well, flax oil is only second best to fish oil. If it were me, I'd drop the flax oil first before decreasing the fish oil.

Sonflower1116

If you're taking fish oil, be sure you get the pharmaceutical grade for maximum benefits. I prefer the high lignon flax oil (Barleans) and have been taking it along with Black Currant Seed oil for 2 years now and my cholesterol HDL and LDL have improved. I didn't like the fish oil aftertaste. I'm also taking Gugul Lipid in the form of Cholesterol Care, instead on Lipitol, which my doctor first wanted me to take to get my total cholesterol down just a little more.

Brendap

I am using about 2T of ground flaxseed in my cereal every morning - NOT flax oil. I figured 1 gram of fish oil capsules every day was enough "oil".

Thanks,
Brenda

Lenin

Brenda,Goodness I never REALIZED that Subclavian Steal was so prevalent:
Is there nothing that can be done percutaneously to open up that vertebral artery.
The reverse flows in up to 4 arteries to compensate for the blockage is fascinating and tribute to our bodies' adaptability. One wouldn't think that arteries could EVER switch flow BACK to the heart, but they do!

I take 5 grams of fish oil and I feel that is small potatoes compared even to eating a nice 6 ounce salmon filet which yields 13 GRAMS of fish oil!

I am so surprised that with 10 mg. Lipitor you aren't getting better than 211 TC. Can you add a little niacin? I'm improving my picture a little with adding about 500 mg. fast flush niacin to my 10 mg. Lipitor but then I need the boost in HDL and you really don't.

Are you doing all the lower LDL stuff like lowering saturated fats and eliminating trans fats, keeping body-weight low, and exercising?

If all else fails, I think your condition calls for the Lipitor increase...and of course, daily aspirin (take 2, they're small)

happybunny

One little question....

Why not just eat oily fish? 2-3 portions a week can give very good levels of the omega-3, just spread the portions over the week. Personally I hate mackerel but I eat fresh salmon, tinned wild salmon, sardines, trout and find that they are so easy to prepare. 100g is a reasonable portion.

Fish Type............Quantity of omega-3 fatty acid
mackerel .............2.5 g /100g
herring ................1.6 g /100g
sardines ...............2.5 g/100g
salmon .................1.8 g/100g

Brendap

Lenin:
Actually I have been doing good keeping things under control and below 200, however, it sort of edged up on me as did my LDL during this past blood test. In order to avoid a higher dose of Lipitor, I thought I would try to add "more" fish oil to my diet -- but was afraid it might increase the LDL rather than decrease it. I have read conflicting reports along that line.

I was diagnosed with high cholesterol (TC 300+ - Triglycerides 1001 !!) in 1988 and sort of half heartedly tried to lower it; but when my Subsclavian Steal was diagnosed in 1996, it instantly got my attention. I lost 30 lbs. and went on lipitor and started getting a yearly doppler on my Steal. I am also in the gym every other day without fail. It has not worsened since the diagnosis. My Dr. says that as long as I watch things I might be OK. I am totally asymptomatic. If it weren't for the neck bruit that someone just stumbled upon, I would never have even known it.

When and if I develop symptoms (dizziness when using my arm, blurred vision, among other things) -- the Vascular Surgeon will stint it. Sometimes, they are difficult to reach though from what I understand.

Thanks for everyone's advice.
Brenda

Lenin

happybunny,

My technique is to eat about 5 servings of fish a week AND take 5 grams of cod liver oil/day.
I am playing ALL the angles trying to avoid a bypass!

happybunny

Lenin.

As cod is a "white" fish then surely cod liver oil will be increasing your daily fat without majorly benefitting your omega 3 levels? I admire your ability to take the horrible stuff though! When I tried cod liver oil for my joints ages ago, I hated the stuff so much - I used to belch fish taste up, ugh - that my husband took the bottle and threw it over the fence!!! Not nice.

I just stick to salmon etc. Cajun salmon - now that is nice. Bit of hot to get the endorphins buzzin'.

But lenin - I agree - anything to avoid a bypass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lenin

happybunny,
Cod Liver Oil is quite high in EPA and DHA Omega-3 oils. Five Grams CLO gives me 900 mg EPA and 600 mg DHA.
I also cook with Canola oil and I use Smart Beat (Canola oil margerine..no trans fats) so I'm getting a whopping amount of ALA (vegetable omega-3) on top of that.

Maybe the cod's LIVER isn't white!

Uff-Da!

Brenda, have you considered adding psillium instead of adding fish oil? This won't help vegetarians, but if you are getting dietary cholesterol from animal products, it is likely to help. I just did a search for studies about psillium and cholesterol, and this comes from one of the first items referenced:

There have also been studies done on lowering cholesterol with psillium but no statin. I recall reading one where I believe the result was about ten percent lowering of cholesterol with a heaping teaspoon of psillium (Metamucil) in a cup of water three times a day. I don't want to take the time to find that again now, but if the idea interests you, you could probably locate it with an appropriate search.

Brendap

Thanks for the suggestion - but I have been down that road. I am one of those people that can NOT take psillium. I am constipated by nature anyway -- and psillium just compounds that problem beyond belief -- no matter how much water I drink. My gastro Dr. and Primary Dr. told me to stay away from it. I took it for a year before I realized it wasn't going to work -- and in that time there was no lowering of my cholesterol.

I have been battling elevated cholesterol for years with blood work every 4 months religiously so I have figured out what works and what doesn't. My problem is carbohydrates. I can eat meat every day and my cholesterol doesn't budge -- but let me start on sweets or bread or potatoes and watch out. HA That is why I thought I would try adding fish oil to my diet -- since I am not a fish eater. Canned tuna once in a while is all I can get down.

I stay away from trans fats and read every label I put in my cart. No store bought cookies or sweets or anything else with partially hydrogenated anything in it.

I usually manage to maintain my cholesterol level watching what I eat and exercising and taking 10 mg. Lipitor...but this past test showed that I never can ease off diet restrictions.

Thanks for the suggestion though.
Brenda