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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ed_uk on April 24, 2005, at 15:28:33
Is it my imagination that my fish oil supplement is acting as a laxative???
Ed.
Posted by Larry Hoover on April 25, 2005, at 8:37:07
In reply to Fish Oil Laxative, posted by ed_uk on April 24, 2005, at 15:28:33
> Is it my imagination that my fish oil supplement is acting as a laxative???
>
> Ed.It can do that, if your body is not adapted to fatty acid intake. Are you generally fat avoidant?
You could split your intake amongst your day's meals, or reduce the dose temporarily. Your bile output ought to adapt to the fish oil intake, and then you can increase the dose.
Lar
Posted by Declan on April 25, 2005, at 18:31:56
In reply to Re: Fish Oil Laxative » ed_uk, posted by Larry Hoover on April 25, 2005, at 8:37:07
It does that to me. Never managed more than a couple a day. (what with everything else)
Declan
Posted by Larry Hoover on April 25, 2005, at 19:07:10
In reply to Re: Fish Oil Laxative, posted by Declan on April 25, 2005, at 18:31:56
> It does that to me. Never managed more than a couple a day. (what with everything else)
> DeclanDid you try different brands?
I'm not sure why that might happen, but I'll see if there's a way around it.
Lar
Posted by ed_uk on April 26, 2005, at 9:35:01
In reply to Re: Fish Oil Laxative » ed_uk, posted by Larry Hoover on April 25, 2005, at 8:37:07
Hi Lar,
>Are you generally fat avoidant?
No I eat too much fat!
Kind regards,
Ed.
Posted by Nickengland on April 26, 2005, at 15:54:27
In reply to Fish Oil Laxative, posted by ed_uk on April 24, 2005, at 15:28:33
Hi Ed, hope all is well!
Was just wondering where you got your fish oils from as im thinking of buying some.
Did you buy yours on the web or? and how much?
Hi Larry, you seem to know your oils so i thought id run this past you : )
I came across this site www.mind1st.co.uk which says how good their stuff is and blah blah..
Thing is, its very high in EPA and contains no DHA, but they seem to think this is a good thing..
One 500mg vegetable capsule contains:
EPA 300mg
EPO100mg
ZERO DHA
VIT E 15mgAlso say its "pharmaceutical grade"
I know nothing about EPA or DHA
Kind regards
Nick
Ps Is this fish oil meant to be mood stabilising too?
Posted by banga on April 26, 2005, at 18:40:33
In reply to To Ed/Larry, posted by Nickengland on April 26, 2005, at 15:54:27
Hi Im not Larry or Ed the last time I checked, but thought I'd pass this on...
Two example articles on the subject:
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/p991211.html
http://www.mcmanweb.com/article-15.htm
Carlson's supplements have a very good EFA formula, that can be ordered on the web; I get mine from vitacost.com--their NSI brand formulas of supplements are not too expensive and are good quality.
DHA vs EPA: it is interesting, people have typically said DHA is the "neuroactive" form, yet the studies point to EPA being more important in regards to mood stabilization. I personally take both, just to make sure.
Posted by ed_uk on April 27, 2005, at 7:53:35
In reply to To Ed/Larry, posted by Nickengland on April 26, 2005, at 15:54:27
Hi Nick!
I hope you are well :-)
>Was just wondering where you got your fish oils from as im thinking of buying some.
I got it from Holland and Barrett. It contains EPA and DHA, 1g fish oil per capsule.
>Thing is, its very high in EPA and contains no DHA, but they seem to think this is a good thing.
Larry is your man!
Kind regards,
Ed.
Posted by Nickengland on April 28, 2005, at 10:01:38
In reply to Re: To Ed/Larry, posted by banga on April 26, 2005, at 18:40:33
Thanks Banga : )
Interesting reading both links. I guess to be on the safe side its best to take both, perhaps they compliment each other in some way..
I'm going to purchase some soon, but not just yet as im switching from carbamazepine to oxcarbazepine so once im settled there 'ill buy some.
Kind regards,
Nick
Posted by Nickengland on April 28, 2005, at 10:02:24
In reply to Re: To Ed/Larry » Nickengland, posted by ed_uk on April 27, 2005, at 7:53:35
Thanks Ed : )
Posted by Larry Hoover on April 29, 2005, at 7:08:29
In reply to To Ed/Larry, posted by Nickengland on April 26, 2005, at 15:54:27
> Hi Larry, you seem to know your oils so i thought id run this past you : )
>
> I came across this site www.mind1st.co.uk which says how good their stuff is and blah blah..
>
> Thing is, its very high in EPA and contains no DHA, but they seem to think this is a good thing..
>
> One 500mg vegetable capsule contains:
>
> EPA 300mg
> EPO100mg
> ZERO DHA
> VIT E 15mg
>
> Also say its "pharmaceutical grade"
>
> I know nothing about EPA or DHA
>
> Kind regards
>
> Nick
>
> Ps Is this fish oil meant to be mood stabilising too?Fish oil, containing both EPA and DHA, is more mood-stabilizing, IMHO, that either fatty acid alone. That's merely my opinion.
The product description shows that they out-sourced this oil, and it obviously came from Laxdale, who hold the patent on ethyl-eicosapentaenoate. It's "pharmaceutical grade" because it's a manufactured product. I do not believe the Laxdale research has proven DHA is not required. They've merely shown that EPA has some efficacy on its own.
I believe in straight fish oil. Carlson's is an excellent brand, and it contains no environmental contaminants. If you take a tablespoon each of Carlson's cod liver and fish oils, every day, you will totally optimize your omega-3 intake, and be obtaining vitamin D at a rate which is itself antidepressant.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on April 29, 2005, at 7:16:16
In reply to Re: To Ed/Larry, posted by banga on April 26, 2005, at 18:40:33
> Hi Im not Larry or Ed the last time I checked, but thought I'd pass this on...
>
> Two example articles on the subject:
>
> http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/p991211.html
>
> http://www.mcmanweb.com/article-15.htm
>
> Carlson's supplements have a very good EFA formula, that can be ordered on the web; I get mine from vitacost.com--their NSI brand formulas of supplements are not too expensive and are good quality.
>
> DHA vs EPA: it is interesting, people have typically said DHA is the "neuroactive" form, yet the studies point to EPA being more important in regards to mood stabilization. I personally take both, just to make sure.The two fatty acids have very distinct modes of action. It just happens that the DHA effect is more behind the scenes.
EPA goes to form highly potent signalling compounds, in the class known as eicosanoids (the same root as the name for EPA). Eicosa means twenty, and the twenty-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids are what modulate the inflammatory/anti-inflammatory response. An EPA deficiency leads to generalized inflammation, and this is believed to be part of the "stress" of depression, part of the vicious circle that locks it in. EPA can have a rapid effect, as an inter-cellular (between cells) messenger.
DHA works by being taken into a cell's cytoplasm, and regulates the expression of a variety of proteins (enzymes, receptors, receptor-linked proteins, etc.). It is an intra-cellular (within a single cell) messenger.
That is grossly simplified, of course, but they are both essential, and both in short supply in the typical diet.
More reading, for those so inclined:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021025/msgs/125809.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20030903/msgs/259680.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021101/msgs/126168.htmlLar
Posted by tealady on April 29, 2005, at 19:23:17
In reply to Fish Oil Laxative, posted by ed_uk on April 24, 2005, at 15:28:33
> Is it my imagination that my fish oil supplement is acting as a laxative???
>
> Ed.Works as a laxative in my Dad. He is on fish oil 2 standard caps daily, and cod liver oil (that works as laxative too)
With the cod liver oil he's only on just one teaspoon a week now and will have a break every summer probably 5 mths on(winter), 7 mths off.
He started on 1 tablespoon daily, for 1st week , then tapered to one tablespoon twice a week, then once a week and then 1 teaspoon weekly as levels of VitA build up. Taken with the fattiest meal of the day as with fish oil caps.His constipation returned on stopping the fish oil for a few days, and got better when added again. He's eaten a highish fat/protein diet all his life,meat 2 or 3 times a day etc, so its not that.
He's been on fish oil for 3 months now, and it still helps his constipation, not completely as he tapered down on cod liver oil, but has a slight effect.
He usually eats salmon a couple of times a week, and it doesn't have the same effect, so perhaps its just the oil itself being partially undigested?Jan
Posted by Nickengland on May 2, 2005, at 10:19:36
In reply to Re: To Ed/Larry » Nickengland, posted by Larry Hoover on April 29, 2005, at 7:08:29
Hi Larry,
Thanks for that info! : )
I decided against going for the capsules as that option seemed far more expensive.
Also for each capsule that says its 1000mg (on different brands i noticed this too) the levels of EPA and DEA would only work out to be maybe 300 EPA and 200 DHA per 1000mg capsule...which is a little misleading and confusing!
So I choose bottled Oil, the brand is Seven Seas which one of the best here in the UK.
Just run this past you..its Extra High Strength Pure Cod Liver Oil:
Per 10ml (2 teaspoons)
Omega 3 nutrients - 2800mg
of which EPA & DHA - 2300mgAs well as all the other Vitamins A D & E etc..
2300mg of EPA and DHA sounds quite enough doesn't it? Would you say the recommended 2 teaspoons per day is about right or should i take any more?
Many thanks Larry : )
Nick
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 2, 2005, at 13:56:01
In reply to Larry, posted by Nickengland on May 2, 2005, at 10:19:36
> Hi Larry,
>
> Thanks for that info! : )You're welcome.
> I decided against going for the capsules as that option seemed far more expensive.
>
> Also for each capsule that says its 1000mg (on different brands i noticed this too) the levels of EPA and DEA would only work out to be maybe 300 EPA and 200 DHA per 1000mg capsule...which is a little misleading and confusing!Well, it's just that fish oil is a mixture of different fatty acids, and the ones we're interested in aren't all that's in fish oil.
> So I choose bottled Oil, the brand is Seven Seas which one of the best here in the UK.
>
> Just run this past you..its Extra High Strength Pure Cod Liver Oil:
>
> Per 10ml (2 teaspoons)
>
> Omega 3 nutrients - 2800mg
> of which EPA & DHA - 2300mg
>
> As well as all the other Vitamins A D & E etc..
>
> 2300mg of EPA and DHA sounds quite enough doesn't it? Would you say the recommended 2 teaspoons per day is about right or should i take any more?Perfect. I think it's just right. The vitamin D might do you a world of good, too.
> Many thanks Larry : )
>
> NickBest,
Lar
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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