Fish oil is derived from the tissues of oily fish and is a source of omega-3 essential fatty acids. These fats are considered 'essential' because they cannot be synthesised by the body and must be supplied through the diet or via supplementation.

What is the difference between omega-3 and fish oil?

Omega-3 is a component of fish oil. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). It is the EPA+DHA content of fish oil which provide many of its therapeutic benefits. While omega-3 can be found in foods such as linseeds and wheat-germ, combined omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are available in large amounts in deep-sea cold water oily fish such as salmon, anchovies, mackerel and sardines.

I've heard of other Omega's. What are they and what do they do?

There are a few types of omega fatty acids, including:

• Omega-3 fatty acids are found in both plant and animals but the most concentrated dietary source of combined omega-3s EPA and DHA is fish oil from cold-water fish, such as salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel.
• Most omega-6 fatty acids obtained from the diet such as linoleic acid (LA) and gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) come from vegetable oils.Omega-6 fatty acids are important for the health of our cell membranes, and may be recommended for conditions of the skin including dry skin and eczema.
• Omega-9 fats are a class of mono-unsaturated fats and are found in vegetable oils such as olive oil.

If I can get Omega from other sources, why fish?

Most dietary EPA and DHA are consumed in the form of fish or seafood. Deep sea cold water fish, such as salmon, mackerel, halibut and herring, provide the most concentrated sources.

I thought fat was bad for you?

Some people think that all dietary fat is bad; however, some fats are good, such as the mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Omega-3 fats are a class of polyunsaturated fats that are sometimes also known as essential fatty acids (EFAs) because they cannot be made by the body, and must be obtained from the diet. Omega-3 fats therefore, are a class of fatty acid that is important for good health.

The benefits of fish oil were first realised when researchers observed Inuit in a Greenland population in the 1970's. These Inuit had healthy cholesterol and triglycerides levels despite eating a high fat diet. This was determined to be because of their diet rich in marine mammals and fish that contain high amounts of the 'good fat' omega-3. Since that time, more and more benefits of fish oil and omega-3 have been discovered. ¹

References:

1. Bang H, Dyerberg J, N ielsen A. Plasma lipid and lipoprotein pattern in Greenlandic west-coast Eskimos. The Lancet 1971:1143-1145