Does Fish Oil deplete Vitamin E levels?

Some do, but fortunately ours doesn't. Chris, a customer raised this question.

Chris asks:

"I have been taking 4 capsules of fish oil per day for a year. A dentist friend informed me that long term use of fish oil can cause vitamin E deficiency. Any truth to that? I also came across a study that was performed in 2001 by the University of Boston, which concluded that long term use of fish oil caused lower levels of vitamin E. Please enlighten me."

 

Warren's answer:

You raise a good point Chris.

The study that was done at Tuffs University in Boston showed that after several months of high dose fish oil that the subjects experienced a reduction in Vitamin E levels. This is due to oxidation of the fish oil drawing down on the body's supply of Vitamin E to help offset the oxidation.

The key to avoiding this is to ensure that the fish oil you are taking has not only added Vitamin E (the natural form) and preferably other antioxidants as well.

This is one of the factors that differentiate our fish oil products from others. Not only do we add natural tocopherols but also a potent anti-oxidant mix of rosemary oil, lecithin and ascorbyl palmitate. This is a proprietary blend developed by Kemin Inc. As far as I know we are the only manufacturer who uses this blend...no doubt because on a kg per kg basis it is the most expensive component of the product...but, it is good.

So, no worries about depleting your Vitamin E levels when you are using one of our Omega 3 fish oils. Some people take additional Vitamin E with their fish oil to help offset this if their fish oil does not contain additional Vitamin E. In fact, that is a good idea for most other brands as the levels of Vitamin E in most products tend to be quite low, if there is any there at all.

3 Responses

I have been taking 4 grams of fish oil by doctors recommendation for high triglycerides and cholesterol,
first, in the uber expensive pharmaceutical grade, now, I take Nordic Ultimate Omegas, approx 2,500g a
day, and indeed at one point I had 0 vitamin E in my body, and now, even at 4,000 IU of E, I am instructed
by my endocronologist to take 5,000 g of vitamin E as it is still low – makes sense that it is due to the amount
of Omegas I take.

Patricia Paris August 02 2018

I’d be interested to know what the high dose was, and also the full study details too? Thanks, Mark.

Mark November 26 2010

fish oil as in omega 3 oils?because i take those supplements too.

ankita November 29 2010

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