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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MoparFan91 on May 11, 2005, at 22:36:34
I started back taking Fish Oil again back in the beginning of the last week of April. At about the same time, I upped my amino acid Taurine dosage to over 2,000mg and doubled the Zinc to 300mg. I added 1,000mg Acetyl L-Carnitine, 150mg 5-HTP, and 600mcg Chromium Polynicotinate as well.
Anyway, I was taking the Fish Oil for 2 months straight but at a bit lower dose. I'm now on 9,000mg of EPA/DHA combined in 3 divided doses (30 capsules of regular fish oil). Since starting back on it (and possibly from making the other changes to my supplements), my appetite has gone through the roof. I'm eating DOUBLE the amount of what I normally was eating before:
-I've been eating whole cartons of ice cream in one sitting
-eating 3 burgers and mega-sized fries and drink plus large chocolate shakes at McDonald's in one sitting
-doing some other binging, and eating over 2,000 Calories per meal at times.I've gained a few pounds because of this.
Before this, my appetite was pretty normal, and I seemed to have gotten hungry when I was supposed to. Now, I feel like I'm hungry (and true gnawing physical hunger and famished feeling at that) even after eating a lot. This seems have started over a few days after re-initiation of fish oil (and possibly other changes to supplements).
I'm also taking Lamictal and Geodon, and none of those have ever changed my appetite.
What's going on here? Is there something about the Fish Oil (or those other supplements) that causes an increase in appetite?
A big appetite is VERY VERY BAD for weight control.
Posted by MidnightBlue on May 12, 2005, at 0:16:44
In reply to Fish Oil/other supplements increasing appetite?, posted by MoparFan91 on May 11, 2005, at 22:36:34
I only take about 1 gram of fish oil, but I seem to be a bit less hungry. Maybe it is something else you take? Fish oil is about 15 calories a gram in the formula I take it in.
Posted by JLx on May 12, 2005, at 7:47:24
In reply to Fish Oil/other supplements increasing appetite?, posted by MoparFan91 on May 11, 2005, at 22:36:34
> I started back taking Fish Oil again back in the beginning of the last week of April. At about the same time, I upped my amino acid Taurine dosage to over 2,000mg and doubled the Zinc to 300mg. I added 1,000mg Acetyl L-Carnitine, 150mg 5-HTP, and 600mcg Chromium Polynicotinate as well.
>
> Anyway, I was taking the Fish Oil for 2 months straight but at a bit lower dose. I'm now on 9,000mg of EPA/DHA combined in 3 divided doses (30 capsules of regular fish oil). Since starting back on it (and possibly from making the other changes to my supplements), my appetite has gone through the roof. I'm eating DOUBLE the amount of what I normally was eating before:
> -I've been eating whole cartons of ice cream in one sitting
> -eating 3 burgers and mega-sized fries and drink plus large chocolate shakes at McDonald's in one sitting
> -doing some other binging, and eating over 2,000 Calories per meal at times.
>
> I've gained a few pounds because of this.
>
> Before this, my appetite was pretty normal, and I seemed to have gotten hungry when I was supposed to. Now, I feel like I'm hungry (and true gnawing physical hunger and famished feeling at that) even after eating a lot. This seems have started over a few days after re-initiation of fish oil (and possibly other changes to supplements).
>
> I'm also taking Lamictal and Geodon, and none of those have ever changed my appetite.
>
> What's going on here? Is there something about the Fish Oil (or those other supplements) that causes an increase in appetite?
>
> A big appetite is VERY VERY BAD for weight control.Fish oil is generally known for reducing appetite. I wouldn't suspect that's the problem here, unless it is in combination with everything else for some strange reason.
That's a HUGE amount of zinc you're taking. Unless you have a particular reason and it was advised by a knowledgeable health practitioner, I would NOT take that much zinc. Too much zinc can suppress immune function and deplete the body of copper and iron. Too much zinc, if you're a man, may increase the risk of prostate cancer (per the National Cancer Institute). The usual advised upper limit is only about 11-30 mg, maybe 50 mg for a short time for a specific reason. See:
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,10071,00.html
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/cc/zinc.html
It could be the acetyl-L-carnitine. From HealthNotes, http://www.kroger.com/hn/Supp/Acetyl_L_Carnitine.htm
"Side effects from taking acetyl-L-carnitine are uncommon, although skin rash, increased appetite, nausea, vomiting, agitation, and body odor have been reported in people taking acetyl-L-carnitine.2 3
5-HTP is supposed to be an appetite suppresant, as well as chromium so it's probably not them. Although in my experience, any serotonin booster can be problematical. Taurine shouldn't be the problem either, but amino acids can be powerful and tricky so it's always worth experimenting further with them.
But, I'd try cutting down or out the carnitine first and also DEFINITELY stop taking so much zinc.
JL
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 15, 2005, at 12:35:06
In reply to Fish Oil/other supplements increasing appetite?, posted by MoparFan91 on May 11, 2005, at 22:36:34
> I started back taking Fish Oil again back in the beginning of the last week of April. At about the same time, I upped my amino acid Taurine dosage to over 2,000mg and doubled the Zinc to 300mg.
You're taking how much zinc? 300 mg is 10 times what you should be taking. Adverse effects kick in at 50 mg. That level of zinc intake will totally shut down copper uptake. Continue at that dose, and you'll get quite ill.
I added 1,000mg Acetyl L-Carnitine, 150mg 5-HTP, and 600mcg Chromium Polynicotinate as well.
Those are OK.
> Anyway, I was taking the Fish Oil for 2 months straight but at a bit lower dose. I'm now on 9,000mg of EPA/DHA combined in 3 divided doses (30 capsules of regular fish oil). Since starting back on it (and possibly from making the other changes to my supplements), my appetite has gone through the roof. I'm eating DOUBLE the amount of what I normally was eating before:
> -I've been eating whole cartons of ice cream in one sitting
> -eating 3 burgers and mega-sized fries and drink plus large chocolate shakes at McDonald's in one sitting
> -doing some other binging, and eating over 2,000 Calories per meal at times.
>
> I've gained a few pounds because of this.I hope you're not surprised that you're gaining weight on this regime.
> Before this, my appetite was pretty normal, and I seemed to have gotten hungry when I was supposed to. Now, I feel like I'm hungry (and true gnawing physical hunger and famished feeling at that) even after eating a lot. This seems have started over a few days after re-initiation of fish oil (and possibly other changes to supplements).You've confounded your experiment. Drop one or another of the supps, and see what changes.
> I'm also taking Lamictal and Geodon, and none of those have ever changed my appetite.
>
> What's going on here? Is there something about the Fish Oil (or those other supplements) that causes an increase in appetite?
>
> A big appetite is VERY VERY BAD for weight control.I'd drop either the carnitine or the chromium, as my first appetite control experiment.
And cut down on that zinc. That is way too much.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 15, 2005, at 12:37:17
In reply to Re: Fish Oil/other supplements increasing appetite? » MoparFan91, posted by MidnightBlue on May 12, 2005, at 0:16:44
> I only take about 1 gram of fish oil, but I seem to be a bit less hungry. Maybe it is something else you take? Fish oil is about 15 calories a gram in the formula I take it in.
Fats are 9 calories per gram. It doesn't matter what kind of fat, they're all about the same (plus or minus 1 or 2 %).
Lar
Posted by vitaqueen on May 16, 2005, at 11:41:05
In reply to Re: Fish Oil/other supplements increasing appetite? » MidnightBlue, posted by Larry Hoover on May 15, 2005, at 12:37:17
I've often wondered this myself, but not with the fish oil per se. I am now taking daily CoQ10 (100mg), B-complex with all cofactors (100mg), Vit E (400iu), alpha lipoic acid (100mg), Vit C (3000 mg), Folic Acid (800 mcg), Milk Thistle (200 mg), Selenium (200 mcg), lycopene/lutein/carotene (500 mcg), grape seed extract (200 mg), calcium/mag (500 mg), vanadium (5000 mcg), manganese (8 mg), L-glutatione (20 mg) chromium (200 mg), red yeast rice (2400 mg) and garlic.
Since I've been on these since last November, I've gained about 15 lbs and can't understand why my appetite has increased. Could it be these vitamins and supplements? I would like to cut out some of them, but I have been feeling so terrific since taking them, compared to not being able to get out of bed before, that I'm concerned my body aches and pains and fatigue, etc. will return if I stop.
Posted by RedSoxFan79 on May 16, 2005, at 23:51:45
In reply to Fish Oil/other supplements increasing appetite?, posted by MoparFan91 on May 11, 2005, at 22:36:34
I took fish oil about 3 years ago and it worked for about 6 months very well, then stopped working no matter how much i changed dosage/brands. Anyways, my appetite went through the roof also. I also became obsessed with weightlifting during that time. In 6 months I went from 155 to 195 and get ALOT stronger, I was eating tons of protein. Anyways, after about 6 months the desire for food and weightlifting completely vanished and today I am back down to my puny 160 pounds. Id be pretty big If the fish oil never pooped out. It was a very strange response.
Posted by MidnightBlue on May 18, 2005, at 15:33:24
In reply to Re: Fish Oil/other supplements increasing appetite? » MidnightBlue, posted by Larry Hoover on May 15, 2005, at 12:37:17
All I know is the 3 capsules of OmegaBrite are supposed to be 15 calories according to the package. It is 1.something grams.
Posted by JLx on May 23, 2005, at 11:24:13
In reply to Re: Fish Oil/other supplements increasing appetite?, posted by vitaqueen on May 16, 2005, at 11:41:05
> I've often wondered this myself, but not with the fish oil per se. I am now taking daily CoQ10 (100mg), B-complex with all cofactors (100mg), Vit E (400iu), alpha lipoic acid (100mg), Vit C (3000 mg), Folic Acid (800 mcg), Milk Thistle (200 mg), Selenium (200 mcg), lycopene/lutein/carotene (500 mcg), grape seed extract (200 mg), calcium/mag (500 mg), vanadium (5000 mcg), manganese (8 mg), L-glutatione (20 mg) chromium (200 mg), red yeast rice (2400 mg) and garlic.
>
> Since I've been on these since last November, I've gained about 15 lbs and can't understand why my appetite has increased. Could it be these vitamins and supplements? I would like to cut out some of them, but I have been feeling so terrific since taking them, compared to not being able to get out of bed before, that I'm concerned my body aches and pains and fatigue, etc. will return if I stop.If you're feeling terrific otherwise, then maybe your appetite is increased as in normal for you when before it was diminished as part of less overall health. Maybe you could increase exercise or do something else to counteract the weight gain rather than changing your supplements.
JL
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