Any problem while consuming fish oil or omega-3 supplements?

Omega-3, rich in fish oil, has become the most popular dietary supplement. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may reduce the risk of diseases, including hyperlipidemia, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. But too much fish oil is more harm than good. Even though omega-3 is a very safe functional ingredient, it still has mild side effects while taking too much of it. Side effects need to be considered when we take omega-3 daily.

1. Increase the risk of bleeding. There are potential adverse effects of bleeding and decreased platelet aggregation in blood. Omega-3 fatty acids exert a dose-related effect on bleeding time. Because this antithrombotic effect is still possible, people taking blood-thinning medicines such as Wafarin and Aspirin should be monitored while taking omega-3s. It is also an excellent choice to switch fish oil omega-3 to vegetable-originated, which contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), to avoid blood clot issues. Or lower your dosage. If you’re taking medicine that affects blood clotting, consult your healthcare provider before taking omega-3 supplements.
2. Stomach disorders. When we took omega-3, a somewhat disgusting fish smell came out of our stomach. This fishy aftertaste might be the most common side effect of omega-3. In other words, it is called a gastrointestinal disorder. Gastro- means stomach, and intestinal means gut. There are so many symptoms, such as unpleasant taste, bad breath, bad-smelling sweat, abdominal pain, heartburn due to acid reflux, nausea, and diarrhea. High levels of fish oil intake make the stomach burden. Because this fish oil is naturally unstable. Which means it can quickly rot and make a bad smell. Omega-3s in fish oil are fatty acids, fatty acids are lipids, and lipids can be oxidized in warm temperatures like inside of the stomach. Omega-3 oxidized could make gas a “fishy” smell and bulbing. Because of these oxidation issues, most omega-3 products contain vitamin E as an anti-oxidative. When you get bad feelings in your stomach or belly, try omega-3 right after meals. Or try only once a day. Or lower the doses of omega-3, and symptoms will be relieved.
3. Decrease blood pressure. For anyone taking blood pressure medications, long and high-dose omega-3 might cause trouble. Omega-3 could flex blood vessels and, as a result, lower blood pressure. It is beneficial for those who have hypertension problems, but for someone who has already adjusted blood pressure with drugs, hypotension, which means lower blood pressure than usual, might be the problem. And through this, headache and dizziness can occur. For those who are healthy, these symptoms could be possible, even for those who are in healthy blood pressure conditions. So, be aware when you take high doses of omega-3 for the first time, especially taking medicines to treat high blood pressure.
4.  Allergic reactions. Allergies are potential signs for those who are sensitive while taking fish oil. Rash and itchiness. Anyone who has a fish allergy, omega-3 could be a worse choice. It could be hard to bear eating omega-3. If you’re allergic to fish oil, try vegetable omega-3 or seaweed omega-3. These will be the answers.
5.  Liver damage. Omega-3 occasionally increases liver test levels like AST and ALT. There is not enough explanation for liver toxicity. However, some scientists say omega-3s are polyunsaturated fatty acids that go out of the body through the liver. It is called a metabolic pathway. The metabolic pathway is a passage to throw away foreign materials that come from outside to the inside of our body. Usually, the liver does it. Throwing away omega-3 consumed might burden the liver, and some damage might be expected. But we still need further inspections.
6.  Hypervitaminosis. Too many vitamins in our body cause trouble. Some omega-3 supplements contain vitamin D and vitamin A. These vitamins are the fat-soluble vitamins. They are soluble in fats and absorbed and transported to fat, not like other vitamins, such as B or C. They can easily stock in fatty parts of the body. Vitamins A and D could be accumulated in our bodies. High levels of vitamin D in the blood bring too much calcium into our blood, causing hypercalcemia. Also, high vitamin A levels are worse; it is hazardous to pregnant women and young children. It is crucial to know how much vitamins in omega-3 products you consume. 

Today, we are gonna talk about some side effects omega-3 has. While taking omega 3, there are some concerns we should check in case. But there is not enough evidence right now, only few cases reported. These are some cases reported but need more scientific evidence on that.

1. Hyperlipidemia. Too much bad lipid in the blood. Sometimes LDL, low-density lipoprotein, which is bad for blood vessels, could increase due to intake of omega-3 long times. Some people taking omega-3 regularly have increased levels of this bad lipid in the blood. But not to worry, the clinical relevance of this finding remains uncertain. It is definitely true that omega-3 is a powerful ingredient that lowers other bad lipids like triglyceride and increases good lipid, HDL, and high-density lipoprotein. Proper doses of omega-3 intake will make you healthy, so it is recommended not to quit daily fish oil. If you need any help while taking omega-3, contact your healthcare providers.
2.  Increase glucose level. Sugar in the blood sometimes increases with taking large amounts of fish oil. Although there are controversial opinions on the effect of omega-3 on glucose control. Most evidence shows that fish oil does not significantly elevate glucose.
3.  Risk of prostate cancer. There are some cases where omega-3s might influence the risk of cancer in the prostate. Several large-scale studies have linked higher blood levels of long-chain omega-3s with higher risks of prostate cancer. There’s conflicting evidence on whether omega-3s might affect the risk of prostate cancer. 

Today, we talked about what omega-3 is. It is very well-known good stuff for daily dietary. But it might cause some trouble if you take too much of it for a long time. I still highly recommend a good, balanced omega-3 product for your healthy life. Because omega-3 has lots of benefits than not to take, the side effects could be ignorable if you are following up with doctors or pharmacists.

References

NIH, Health Information

J. Food Bioact. 2019, 7, 1

Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 2006, 1, 182

Am. Fam. Physician. 2004, 70, 133

Am. J. Cardiol. 2007, 99