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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JackT on August 21, 2003, at 11:03:32
Last week I asked for experiences with fish oil causing acne. Thanks to all who responded.
After two weeks, my acne problem has gone back to almost normal. I was never prone to acne and the fish oil did not cause a severe outbreak by any means. But I could notice a difference. I'm doing very well on the fish oil now.
After taking some 20 different anti-anxiety and AD meds, fish oil is actually showing some promise. I take 4 "geltabs" a day of normal fish oil (not the liver type) that I bought from Target. Anxiety is my major disorder and I think it has helped that somewhat. It really has helped with my depression. I feel like myself with no side-effects and I'm not taking any other regular meds other than supplements. I do take a xanax as needed but my consumption has dropped by 75%.
Thanks to Lar and the posters that have pitched fish oil. I never would have believed that it would have had a beneficial effect. I've never had a benefit from a supplement or herb that I could actually feel. I hope others that try it experience a benefit as well.
Jack T.
Posted by fluffy on August 21, 2003, at 11:33:58
In reply to Re: Fish Oil and Acne and Depression Improvement, posted by JackT on August 21, 2003, at 11:03:32
Hi Jack--
I'm so glad to hear your encouraging testimonial about fish oil. Glad something natural has worked for you. I'm about to request a trial of it with my doc. If he doesn't approve, then I'm doing it anyway. I'm having a really bad problem with acne right now due to what I think is a reaction to my med. I'm taking Lamictal as an AD and "mood stabilizer" for mostly depressive bipolar disorder (BP type II). Even though Lamictal is working, its effect doesn't "stick". Sometimes I have breakthrough anxiety and depression.
Do you think that the store brands of fish oil are ok? I've heard about these other fancy brands and different types. I wonder if that's even relevant? Have you tried these other more expensive models?
Also--I've heard that it takes awhile for improvement on fish oil if there is any. How long did it take for you to feel the results?
Thanks,
katy
Posted by Bill L on August 22, 2003, at 8:59:39
In reply to Re: Fish Oil and Acne and Depression Improvement, posted by fluffy on August 21, 2003, at 11:33:58
I doubt that your doctor would object to fish oil. It's been shown to help with depression, joint health (my wife takes it for that reason), and possibly other things.
As for the brand, take a well known brand. Don't just go for the cheapest. The better brands do a better job of removing mercury from the oil.
Posted by Bill L on August 22, 2003, at 9:14:06
In reply to Re: Fish Oil and Acne and Depression Improvement, posted by Bill L on August 22, 2003, at 8:59:39
After I wrote my post on this, I read a post from Larry Hoover saying that mercury is removed from all of the brands. I may have been under a mis-impression after reading a claim that a certain fish oil did a better job of removing mercury.
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 22, 2003, at 9:30:43
In reply to Re: Fish Oil and Acne and Depression Improvement, posted by JackT on August 21, 2003, at 11:03:32
> Last week I asked for experiences with fish oil causing acne. Thanks to all who responded.
>
> After two weeks, my acne problem has gone back to almost normal. I was never prone to acne and the fish oil did not cause a severe outbreak by any means.I'm glad to hear that. Your body has already adapted to the new fatty acids floating around.
> But I could notice a difference. I'm doing very well on the fish oil now.
Thanks for letting us know.
> After taking some 20 different anti-anxiety and AD meds, fish oil is actually showing some promise. I take 4 "geltabs" a day of normal fish oil (not the liver type) that I bought from Target. Anxiety is my major disorder and I think it has helped that somewhat. It really has helped with my depression. I feel like myself with no side-effects and I'm not taking any other regular meds other than supplements. I do take a xanax as needed but my consumption has dropped by 75%.
>
> Thanks to Lar and the posters that have pitched fish oil. I never would have believed that it would have had a beneficial effect. I've never had a benefit from a supplement or herb that I could actually feel. I hope others that try it experience a benefit as well.
>
> Jack T.I'm so glad it's worked for you.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 22, 2003, at 9:34:32
In reply to Re: Fish Oil and Acne and Depression Improvement, posted by fluffy on August 21, 2003, at 11:33:58
> Do you think that the store brands of fish oil are ok? I've heard about these other fancy brands and different types. I wonder if that's even relevant? Have you tried these other more expensive models?
Katy, I think that store brands, especially from Target and Walmart and the like, are most likely to be fresh.
I'm a trucker, and I sometimes handle freight for these companies. The inbound freight comes off my truck, and is immediately sorted out to go to each of the stores. There is vitually no warehousing component to the supply chain.
I've never had a bad batch of Spring Valley fish oil (Walmart house brand). I've had bad batches of more expensive products.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 22, 2003, at 10:50:40
In reply to Re: Fish Oil and Acne and Depression Improvement, posted by Bill L on August 22, 2003, at 9:14:06
> After I wrote my post on this, I read a post from Larry Hoover saying that mercury is removed from all of the brands. I may have been under a mis-impression after reading a claim that a certain fish oil did a better job of removing mercury.
Consumerlab does random analysis of products. I can't say that there are no fish oil products on the shelves that contain mercury, but Consumerlab didn't find any.
BTW, the Consumerlab write up showed that some products didn't contain the omega-3s shown on the label.
From: http://www.consumerlab.com/results/omega3.asp
"None of the twenty products were found to contain detectable levels of mercury [less than 1.5 parts per billion (ppb)]. "Sorry, I earlier stated "fractional ppb levels" with respect to the limit of detection. It's actually 1.5 ppb, rather than the fraction of 1 ppb that I recalled it to be.
Lar
Posted by fluffy on August 22, 2003, at 11:10:17
In reply to Re: Fish Oil sources » fluffy, posted by Larry Hoover on August 22, 2003, at 9:34:32
Wow, Larry--
I like that you have a trucker's perspective on fish oil freshness. That's so cool. It's so fun to learn what the other babblers do!
Well, then. I think I'll try the fish oil I got from good 'ol Walgreens. I've heard that the cod liver oil with lemon flavor is a bit more pleasant though. (doesn't it sound icky?!)
Katy
Posted by JackT on August 22, 2003, at 11:24:50
In reply to Re: Fish Oil and Acne and Depression Improvement, posted by fluffy on August 21, 2003, at 11:33:58
Katy,
Thanks for your reply. The fish oil started working in less than a week. It has made a difference in my attitude -- less irritable and more enthusiatic about going to work and getting projects done around the house. It will take some time to determine if it has a lasting benefit, or even if the fish oil will work better after a month or so. I'll keep you posted.
Please note that I'm exited about the improvement and that may have an anti-depressive effect as well. The fish oil is certainly not a cureall, but I do think that consumption of fish and/or fish oil is certainly part of good mental health. I am also eating more fresh salmon for dinner and canned sardines in olive oil once a week for lunch. There are studies that show that eating fish just twice a week has some positive benefits. I wonder how much Omega-3's are in a normal serving of fish?
I just happen to shop at Target and picked up their "Origin" house brand of 1000 mg of fish oil. Larry judges the quality of the fish oil by the "fish burp test" :) This brand produces very few burps and is very tolerable. I can take with or without food but I try to take one with each meal of the day and then one at night (with my evening bowl of ice cream).
If I forget a dose, I don't worry about it like when I've missed dose of an A-D. Or sometimes I take two without a problem. In all it has been a very good experience.
> Hi Jack--
>
> I'm so glad to hear your encouraging testimonial about fish oil. Glad something natural has worked for you. I'm about to request a trial of it with my doc. If he doesn't approve, then I'm doing it anyway. I'm having a really bad problem with acne right now due to what I think is a reaction to my med. I'm taking Lamictal as an AD and "mood stabilizer" for mostly depressive bipolar disorder (BP type II). Even though Lamictal is working, its effect doesn't "stick". Sometimes I have breakthrough anxiety and depression.
>
> Do you think that the store brands of fish oil are ok? I've heard about these other fancy brands and different types. I wonder if that's even relevant? Have you tried these other more expensive models?
>
> Also--I've heard that it takes awhile for improvement on fish oil if there is any. How long did it take for you to feel the results?
>
> Thanks,
> katy
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 22, 2003, at 12:06:03
In reply to Re: Fish Oil sources, posted by fluffy on August 22, 2003, at 11:10:17
> Wow, Larry--
>
> I like that you have a trucker's perspective on fish oil freshness. That's so cool. It's so fun to learn what the other babblers do!I was a trucker before I became a chemist, and as I recover from my breakdown, I find that a little trucking helps pay the bills. I don't see myself doing it much longer.
> Well, then. I think I'll try the fish oil I got from good 'ol Walgreens. I've heard that the cod liver oil with lemon flavor is a bit more pleasant though. (doesn't it sound icky?!)
>
> KatyKaty, cod liver oil has too many vitamins in it for it to be a routine source of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oil might better be called "fish body oil". Liver oils have high concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins, which your body will store in your own liver. Too much in the liver, and your liver starts to die. Small amounts are necessary, but too much is toxic.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 22, 2003, at 12:29:17
In reply to Re: Fish Oil and Acne and Depression Improvement » fluffy, posted by JackT on August 22, 2003, at 11:24:50
> Katy,
>
> Thanks for your reply. The fish oil started working in less than a week. It has made a difference in my attitude -- less irritable and more enthusiatic about going to work and getting projects done around the house. It will take some time to determine if it has a lasting benefit, or even if the fish oil will work better after a month or so. I'll keep you posted.
>
> Please note that I'm exited about the improvement and that may have an anti-depressive effect as well. The fish oil is certainly not a cureall, but I do think that consumption of fish and/or fish oil is certainly part of good mental health. I am also eating more fresh salmon for dinner and canned sardines in olive oil once a week for lunch. There are studies that show that eating fish just twice a week has some positive benefits. I wonder how much Omega-3's are in a normal serving of fish?Depends on the fish.
You can check that, here:
http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~ah/food/At the bottom of this page, you can select from three different pages of lipids. DHA and EPA are on different pages; one is on page 2, the other on page 3. You need to know the chemist's shorthand for the fatty acids. DHA is called 22:6. EPA is 20:5. Unfortunately, there are more than one kind of 18:3, but the table doesn't differentiate. After you select the lipid page you want to consider, you then select fish/shellfish. It's a little awkward, but it's easier than using the USDA database (from which these data arise), in my opinion.
The tables show grams of the fatty acid per 100 grams of fish. You'll see that 100 grams of salmon (100 grams is roughly 4 ounces) has about 2 fish oil capsules worth of omega-3's.
You can also check other kinds of nutrients, by going to the different pages for vitamins, etc. and selecting thereafter for the different types of food you want to consider.
> I just happen to shop at Target and picked up their "Origin" house brand of 1000 mg of fish oil. Larry judges the quality of the fish oil by the "fish burp test" :) This brand produces very few burps and is very tolerable. I can take with or without food but I try to take one with each meal of the day and then one at night (with my evening bowl of ice cream).Yum! Fish oil flavoured ice cream. <heh>
Lar
This is the end of the thread.
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