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Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => Nutrition, Products & Supplements Info => Topic started by: www.BrinkZone.com on October 10, 2008, 06:39:01 AM

Title: Running the numbers on your fish oil supps: know the % of active lipids!
Post by: www.BrinkZone.com on October 10, 2008, 06:39:01 AM
People purchase fish oils supps without actually looking to see if it's a good deal. As with any supps, you have to compare actual labels. Quality issues not withstanding, do you actually look at the % of active lipids? What's the better deal: A product that is 30% active lipids for $20 for 100 1g caps vs say a product that is 40% active lipids containing the same 100 1g caps for $25? clearly, the latter product is the better deal. Two, are you looking at the % of active lipids to make sure you are taking enough to have an effect? This is right out of my Fat Loss Revealed ebook:

Studies have used doses that are quite variable, so no exact dose is known in terms of optimal effects on fat loss/bodycomp, but 6 - 10 g/day (assuming 30% EPA + DHA) is a starting point. So, a 1000mg (1g) softgell cap of fish oil, would be approximately 180mg of EPA and 120mg of DHA, assuming the general rule of 30% total active lipids. Fish oil comes as 60/40 EPA to DHA.

I would recommend at least approximately 6g (6 1000mg caps) fish oils giving you a total of 1800mg of active lipids per day assuming 30% of 6g is EPA and DHA, but you must read the labels for exact numbers. Looking at specific brands for example:

Puritan's Pride uses a 1200mg cap, each containing 360mg total active lipids. You would need 5 caps to = 1800mg total active lipids.

Looking at The Life Extension Foundation: They use a 1000mg cap that gives 600mg total active lipids per cap, which means you would need 3 caps to equal the recommended 1800mg above.

Looking at Nordic Naturals, they use a 1000mg cap that gives a total of 275mg of active lipids per cap, so you will need 6-7 caps per day

Looking at Carlson's, they use a 1000mg cap that gives a total of 320mg of active Omega-3 lipids, so you would need 5-6 caps of this product.

Read your labels people!

- Will
Title: Re: Running the numbers on your fish oil supps: know the % of active lipids!
Post by: Cooker on October 11, 2008, 10:54:56 AM
This is a very good point.  When I see people say they take x number of fish oil caps per day I think to myself so, this is really saying nothing at all.  The EPA/DHA take per day is what is important.
Title: Re: Running the numbers on your fish oil supps: know the % of active lipids!
Post by: www.BrinkZone.com on October 11, 2008, 11:07:55 AM
This is a very good point.  When I see people say they take x number of fish oil caps per day I think to myself so, this is really saying nothing at all.  The EPA/DHA take per day is what is important.

Yup, and taking the dose of them that will actually be effective. It's all about getting the most from the supps you use, and saving $$$ in the process.  ;)
Title: Re: Running the numbers on your fish oil supps: know the % of active lipids!
Post by: laurion on October 11, 2008, 05:33:55 PM
Can you tell the amount of active lipids with this information?

http://www.nutraplanet.com/product/nutraplanet/omega-3-1000-capsules.html
Title: Re: Running the numbers on your fish oil supps: know the % of active lipids!
Post by: Markoni on October 11, 2008, 11:05:16 PM

@ www.BrinkZone.com
what about liquid fish oils , which one would you recommend ?
Title: Re: Running the numbers on your fish oil supps: know the % of active lipids!
Post by: www.BrinkZone.com on October 12, 2008, 05:40:38 AM
Can you tell the amount of active lipids with this information?

http://www.nutraplanet.com/product/nutraplanet/omega-3-1000-capsules.html

Sure, but I aint doing the math for you. It states:

Natural Marine Complex     2000 mg     **
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid)    360 mg    **
DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid)    240 mg    

You can figure out % of active lipids from that info.  ;)
Title: Re: Running the numbers on your fish oil supps: know the % of active lipids!
Post by: laurion on October 12, 2008, 06:17:51 AM
Thank you for the thread.......
not so much for the clarity  ;D
But I think I got it.
Title: Re: Running the numbers on your fish oil supps: know the % of active lipids!
Post by: www.BrinkZone.com on October 12, 2008, 06:19:34 AM
@ www.BrinkZone.com
what about liquid fish oils , which one would you recommend ?

If Nordic Naturals or Carlsons makes a liquid, those are two high quality brands.
Title: Re: Running the numbers on your fish oil supps: know the % of active lipids!
Post by: johnnyx on October 13, 2008, 01:04:34 PM
NOW foods Ultra Omega-3's, has a great %
http://www.nowfoods.com/index.php?action=itemdetail&item_id=95608 (http://www.nowfoods.com/index.php?action=itemdetail&item_id=95608)

Natural Fish Oil Concentrate   1.0 g (1,000 mg)    †   
Omega-3 Fatty Acids               750 mg    †   
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)      500 mg    †   
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)      250 mg   
Title: Re: Running the numbers on your fish oil supps: know the % of active lipids!
Post by: elite_lifter on October 13, 2008, 06:45:21 PM
Best fish oil out there is from www.lef.org