One side effect to be aware of is that anyone who is taking blood thinners should NOT take fish oil pills or flaxseed pills. The latter two are natural blood thinners and will compound the effects of prescription medication. My DH, for instance, suffered a haemorrhagic stroke at age 50. Blood thinners are contraindicated for him.

By the same token, be aware that red yeast pills, often mentioned as a natural cholesterol solution, contain lovostatin. So people that don't tolerate statins well, should not take them.

I'm surprised your friend was not given a prescription for niacin. It's a natural B-vitamin that helps lower triglycerides. Because my DH can't take statins - his liver enzyme levels rise on them - he takes 1-1/2 grams of niacin per day. Although the "niacin flush" is annoying, it has dropped his tryglerides to an amazingly low level.

When using any vitamins, always remember to talk to your pharmacist about possible interactions with any prescription medications you are given.

I've been taking Hi Potency Pure Fish Oil for 2 years. It is very effective at reducing Triglycerides, if you take enough (I take 4-6 grams a day).

If you do your research, you will find many tested brands of Fish Oil that are contaminant-free.

See my link below for more info.

Bonnie

Here is a link that might be useful: Brands of Safe Fish Oil

I have been very lucky. I have never ever had a problem with cholesterol.

bons, like I said see your doctor. Right now there are only "2" Highly refined fish oils on the market that I am aware of. That list is not helpful whatsoever!
One is RES-Q and the other I don't know the name of because I forgot what the doctor called it, however he did mention that it was Super Expensive! Not that the RES-Q is cheap. 3 bottles of 200 caps each for a total 600 caps cost me $115.00!
Now, before It was recommended that I switch I was taking 2 Rexall brand 1200mg caps a day 264 caps in a bottle. If I remember correctly cost was about $13.00 so as you can see what you are talking about is not remotely the same.

There is absolutely no comparison to pharmaceutical grade fish oil and the "long list" you provided. In fact high doses of those can actually be very "Hazerdious" to your health. They are not even remotely in the same ballpark to what I'm talking about.

You are taking very high doses of the over the counter fish oils (4-6 grams), such as "Puritains Pride, SAM's brand, etc, and should see a doctor.
As I said in the beginning, don't believe me see and ask your doctor.

changeling -

I don't want to sound rude, but I'm interested in your qualifications to make the statements you make above (e.g. the list I provided is not helpful, there are only 2 highly refined fish oils on the market, etc).

Are there studies that you know of that back up your remarks?

I actually don't take a brand that is over-the-counter. I take brand (Vital Nutrients) that is only sold to health practitioners that is very expensive, but I buy it by the case through a Dr friend of mine so I get it at a discount. Otherwise, I would be visiting that list I provided.

Bonnie

""changeling -

I don't want to sound rude, but I'm interested in your qualifications to make the statements you make above (e.g. the list I provided is not helpful, there are only 2 highly refined fish oils on the market, etc).

Are there studies that you know of that back up your remarks?""
I actually don't take a brand that is over-the-counter. I take brand (Vital Nutrients) that is only sold to health practitioners that is very expensive, but I buy it by the case through a Dr friend of mine so I get it at a discount. Otherwise, I would be visiting that list I provided.""
__________________________________________________________

Bonnie

I just knew this was coming! Bonnie, you are not rude, you are mad at me because I told you that the list you provided is of little value to the post and of no value to the subject. I am very sorry if this offended you, but I would rather have you offended then not understand what I have been trying to tell everyone from the start, that includes you!
My credentials are absolutely "0"! I am not a doctor! As I stated from the beginning (see ORIGINAL POST), see "your doctor" and ask him/her relative to the subject. I even told everyone to take a printout of what I said to your doctor. What the hell else do you want me to tell you?

The posting was to give people some insight on things that are in the forefront of controlling Cholesterol, thats it, point blank!.
If you decide that you don't need the advise because you are a medically certified physician, thats also fine, for you!

You just do what you want to do Bonnie, but please give other people the chance to give things a bit of thought on there own, they have the right to see there "Doctor" and discuss it with him/her, or do you think that is against your beliefs?
Try reading the "Original Post" it answered all this crap we are going through!

Not to get caught in the cross-fire here, but I do remember seeing a study a few years ago that tested a number of different fish oil supplements and found that they were all contaminant free. I couldn't find the study with a quick perusal of Medline, but I did find studies with similar conclusions for various individual brands. The USP website lists, among others, the readily available brands Kirkland(#400 for $9), Nature Made(#180 for $15), and Equal Line. For those of you who think that fish oil might help, but don't have the budget for the super high-end stuff, these brands should work just as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: USP Supplements

LOL - Changeling - I'm not mad in the least. If anything, I'm amused.

You made your comments with such authority - I'm just interested in knowing what the are based on. If they are just based on your opinion, then I'll take the comments with a grain of salt.

If they are based on reported studies, I'll research the info further.

I never said people shouldn't talk to their Dr - I just asked about your sources of information.

My regular Dr, like many Drs, knows little about supplements, unfortunately. His solution for my cholesterol was drugs. I chose to research supplements, with the help of another Dr friend I have. My regular Dr was surprised at the results they produced for me.

Bonnie