2764: Fish Oil Supplements & Certification - Is Your Supplement Safe?

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[00:01:22] Microsoft Mechanics

[00:01:24] We have copies left.

[00:01:25] Or, if you're outside of the US, we'll email you a digital copy.

[00:01:30] I'll tell you how to send a question in at the end, but for now, let's hear today's question as we optimize your life.

[00:01:40] Today's question came via email. Carol writes,

[00:01:45] Hello, I heard on the podcast to check for USP or NSF certifications on supplement packaging.

[00:01:51] I have a magnesium supplement with a GMP certification.

[00:01:56] Does this certification cover the same quality standards?

[00:02:00] Also, some recent research about fish oil supplements may bring on a new heart problem, such as atrial fibrillation, or increase the likelihood of having a stroke.

[00:02:11] Have you seen research on this?

[00:02:12] It just seems nutritional research is very difficult to check validity and causation.

[00:02:17] Your podcast is great.

[00:02:20] Thank you for taking the time to send in your questions, Carol, and I'm so glad you find the podcast helpful.

[00:02:26] Let's start by talking about certifications that you might see on supplement packaging.

[00:02:30] This is so important because, in the US, the supplement industry is not very well regulated.

[00:02:36] So we can't assume that the products we see on the shelves at our local drugstore are safe.

[00:02:42] One study found that 15% of protein supplements sold contain banned substances, like amphetamines, street name, speed, along with anabolic steroids.

[00:02:54] Other studies have found that some supplements may not even contain the ingredients listed on the label.

[00:02:59] So we may think we're buying a supplement with very specific ingredients, but in fact, we're getting something else entirely.

[00:03:07] So, to help guard against this from happening to us, I've recommended we look for certain symbols on a supplement's packaging.

[00:03:15] If we find these symbols on the product's packaging, that means it's gone through quality and purity testing.

[00:03:22] So, who tests these supplements for quality and purity in the first place?

[00:03:27] The US Food and Drug Administration is supposed to check for quality and purity, but that doesn't always happen.

[00:03:35] So, companies that are not affiliated with the Food and Drug Administration may end up testing the supplement for quality and purity.

[00:03:43] And so I've called these independent companies or independent third-party companies, meaning they're not affiliated with the US Food and Drug Administration.

[00:03:51] The two most well-established organizations are United States Pharmacopoeia, or USP, and the National Sciences Foundation, or NSF.

[00:04:03] So, I've often recommended we look for a USP or NSF symbol on a supplement's packaging to make sure that it's been tested for quality and purity before we buy it.

[00:04:14] Now, something I have not mentioned before is this other certification that you were asking about, Carol.

[00:04:21] The one that the US Food and Drug Administration created themselves.

[00:04:25] And this is the one called GMP.

[00:04:28] The full abbreviation is CGMP, which stands for Current Good Manufacturing Practice.

[00:04:36] This certification is given to medicines or supplements.

[00:04:39] So, companies that produce medicines or supplements may be given this CGMP or GMP certification.

[00:04:48] And to receive it, here's what the company has to prove.

[00:04:52] Their operating procedures are sound, that they have ways to monitor how their medicines and supplements are manufactured,

[00:04:59] that they have an established system for finding issues with products they manufactured that don't meet established quality standards,

[00:05:07] and that the lab does this testing for quality standards using reliable methods.

[00:05:13] So, what happens if a company does not have GMP certification?

[00:05:18] Does that now mean the medicine or supplement they produce does not meet quality and purity standards?

[00:05:24] No.

[00:05:25] The medicines or supplements they produce may be just fine.

[00:05:28] We just don't know for sure.

[00:05:30] So, where does that leave us?

[00:05:32] Let's think of it this way.

[00:05:34] The more certifications we find on a supplement's packaging, the better.

[00:05:38] It gives us, the consumer, extra confidence that the product is likely free of impurities

[00:05:44] and actually contains the ingredients in the right dose that we would expect.

[00:05:49] So, now on to your other question, Carol.

[00:05:51] The issue of fish oil supplements and the possible increased risk for conditions like atrial fibrillation or having a stroke.

[00:05:59] Fish oil supplements are often referred to as omega-3 supplements.

[00:06:05] And these fish oil or omega-3 supplements are often recommended by doctors and dieticians

[00:06:10] because of their ability to lower disease risk.

[00:06:14] Omega-3 supplements have been found, in fact, to reduce inflammation in the body.

[00:06:19] And we're finding that chronic, systemic inflammation, meaning the body is under stress for long periods of time,

[00:06:27] can damage the cells from head to toe.

[00:06:29] So, by consuming foods or supplements with omega-3s, we're potentially reducing stress throughout the body.

[00:06:36] So, if omega-3 supplements or fish oil supplements are supposedly good for us,

[00:06:42] why might they lead to an increased risk of other conditions like atrial fibrillation and stroke?

[00:06:48] Atrial fibrillation, by the way, is a condition where the heart no longer beats at a regular rhythm.

[00:06:53] And usually, it's beating much too quickly.

[00:06:56] Those with atrial fibrillation may, in fact, feel like the heart is pounding out of their chest

[00:07:01] and, as a result, may experience lightheadedness or feel short of breath.

[00:07:06] Having atrial fibrillation can also increase the risk of having a stroke.

[00:07:10] Now, a stroke is where the brain doesn't get the oxygen it needs to function, so it starts to die.

[00:07:16] And you're right, Carol.

[00:07:18] Supplementing with omega-3s can increase the risk for both atrial fibrillation and stroke.

[00:07:24] But here's the catch.

[00:07:25] These results were often found when people supplemented with mega-dose versions of omega-3s.

[00:07:31] So, if someone were taking a dose of 2 grams or more of omega-3 every day,

[00:07:37] then this might increase their risk of developing atrial fibrillation or for having a stroke.

[00:07:43] So, that's where our healthcare providers can help us know whether an omega-3 supplement is right for us,

[00:07:48] and if so, the correct dose.

[00:07:51] Now, to your last observation.

[00:07:53] How can we get around the fact that, at times,

[00:07:56] nutrition-related research seems to be difficult to trust?

[00:07:59] And I know it's frustrating.

[00:08:01] I deal with it constantly.

[00:08:02] In fact, I've shared my own frustrations with the fact that,

[00:08:06] one day it seems like we'll hear how a nutrient or food is good for us,

[00:08:10] and the very next day, a study will seem to come out saying the exact opposite.

[00:08:15] Now, to be clear, this is not unique to nutrition-related research,

[00:08:19] but most human-based research in general.

[00:08:22] There is something I recommend we do, though,

[00:08:25] to help make sense of this conflicting research.

[00:08:28] Look for published meta-analyses.

[00:08:30] In case, meta-analyses are giant studies that summarize the results

[00:08:34] of research performed on the same topic.

[00:08:38] So, I looked for a published meta-analysis that looked at omega-3s and atrial fibrillation,

[00:08:44] and sure enough, I found one.

[00:08:46] The advantage of looking at the results of a meta-analysis

[00:08:49] is that it often takes into account this conflicting information,

[00:08:54] and then provides us with an actual conclusion

[00:08:57] on how best to interpret this conflicting information.

[00:09:02] So, please don't give up on nutrition-related research, Carol.

[00:09:10] And thank you again for taking the time to send in your question.

[00:09:13] Now, if you want to send in a question to be answered right here on the show,

[00:09:17] plus get a copy of the Optimal Living Daily Workbook,

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[00:09:44] The number is 161-ILOV-OHD.

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[00:09:53] Thank you so much for doing that.

[00:09:55] Answering your questions is my favorite part of the show.

[00:09:58] And with that, that'll do it for another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily.

[00:10:02] Thank you so much for listening every day and all the way through.

[00:10:05] I hope you have a great start to your weekend,

[00:10:07] and I'll see you back here tomorrow where your optimal life awaits.