Fish Oil Tablets & Capsules

About Fish Oil Tablets & Capsules

Fish oil Supplements are still some of the most popular health products on the Australian market, available in both capsule and liquid form. Few supplements pack the nutritional importance of Omega 3 fish oils due to to the high prevalence of deficiencies in these essential fatty acids.

It was reported in Nutrients in 2016 that the Omega 6 to 3 ratio of the Western diet is currently around 20:1. This means for every gram of Omega 3, 20 grams of Omega 6 are consumed. Unfortunately, this fatty acid ratio is not in alignment with the needs of the human body, which are believed to be closer to 1:2. In fact, if you've been on a typical western diet with a high Omega 6 content, it may be necessary to consume more Omega 3 than Omega 6 for a period of time in order to establish balance. Then a more balanced dietary fatty acid intake between Omega 6 and 3 could consumed, perhaps around the 1:2 ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6. 

The basic Omega 3 fatty acid is called Linolenic Acid, while the Omega 6 fatty acid is Linoleic Acid (an extra "n" can make all the difference). Both are referred to as essential fatty acids, which means our body cannot synthesize them and must take them in through diet or supplementation in order to maintain health. A large portion of our body is fat, such as the brain and every cell membrane in the body. This outer membrane or coating of each cell separates it from other cells and fluids, and is essential for maintaining communication as well as atom/molecule transfer into and out of the cell.

Once in the body, Linolenic Acid and Linoleic Acid can be converted by enzymatic reaction into other fats. In the case of Linolenic acid (Omega 3), a portion of the available fats are converted to EPA and DHA. These specialised fats play crucial roles in the body, such as warding off inflammation and supporting brain health. However, our body’s ability to convert Linolenic acid to EPA and DHA is limited. As little as one per cent of ingested Linolenic acid ends up as DHA, provided we are consuming enough in the first place! For this reason, it is a great idea for most to supplement with these Omega 3 fatty acids on a daily basis. 

Fish oils are a cost-effective way to keep your daily intake of EPA and DHA optimised. They and are safe and suitable for dogs and other pets, as well as children. Krill oil is also a great option, containing the EPA and DHA in phospholipid form, which differs to the triglyceride form found in fish oil. The phospholipid form offers increased bioavailability over standard fish oil, which improves its delivery to the brain. Fish oil even has a triple strength now, allowing you to take one capsule instead of three, which is the best option for those who don't enjoy pill popping.

The authors of a literature review published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases in 2018 undertook an exhaustive review of every single clinical trials since 1966. They concluded that there is a strong evidence base for the use fish oil supplements in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. They found a clinical and statistical correlation between supplementation and improvements in this form of inflammatory arthritis.