Arctic Pure Omega-3 Fish Oil

Omega-3 Fish Oil - Essential Fatty Acids

Fish oils with EPA and DHA support the healthy functions of the brain, joints, and circulatory system. Omega-3 fatty acids help support a healthy cardiovascular system by thinning the blood, dilating blood vessels, and supporting healthy blood pressure. It also has components that support a healthy inflammation response.†

ArcticPure® uses a series of advanced molecular distillation processes to extract and concentrate beneficial essential fatty acids from raw oil, resulting in a product of outstanding purity. ArcticPure uses fish oils from the cleanest sources on Earth. Additionally, state-of-the art encapsulation and bottling ensures an oil as pure as any oil available worldwide.

Omega-3 and omega-6 are called “essential” fatty acids because they are not produced naturally by the body – you must obtain them from food sources. Most Americans get more omega-6 than they can handle, because omega-6 comes from corn oil, sunflower oil, and safflower oil—more than abundant in typical American diets. However, we have severe deficiencies of omega-3, which comes from fatty fish and to a limited extent, flax seed oil.

Omega-3 fatty acids balance omega-6 fatty acids in many functions, but they also have importance on their own. Omega-3s are an essential part of the structure of every cell in the body as an integral component of the cell membrane. This cell integrity enables each cell to accomplish its function.

Most medical experts consider an optimal omega-6/omega-3 ratio to be 2:1 or even 1:1. Americans commonly range from the 10:1 to the 50:1 ratio. This unbalanced ratio has important consequences. Omega-6s and omega-3s compete for the same metabolic enzymes, enzymes that break down fats. Additionally, if there is too much omega-6 in the diet, too many omega-6 byproducts are produced, including compounds called eicosanoids that are involved in the inflammatory response.

Fatty acids are critically essential in the following key areas:

• Supports brain cell function and development†
• Provides cardiovascular support†
• Supports eye and retina health†
• Promotes healthy mental function†
• Supports the immune system†

The Importance of Omega-3s

Omega-3s are part of the body’s internal message communication system. Without them, hormones that deliver important messages from the brain and glands cannot enter the cell to instruct the DNA on what action to take or what compounds to make.

Most hormones cannot enter the cell. Instead they dock on the outer cell membrane, converting the present fatty acid into certain prostaglandins, intracellular, hormone-like compounds that relay hormone instructions to DNA in the cell nucleus.

DNA then begins the process of producing the relevant proteins, enzymes, and other compounds to enable the body and mind to further function in good health. Omega-3s enable the body to function in all its amazing intricacy and multi-leveled beauty.

DHA and EPA

Two of the omega-3 acids that have the greatest importance to human health are:

• Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)

Although these two wonder-acids can be formed by the metabolism of alpha-linolenic acid from plants, the process of conversion is slow and only 15 percent of the alpha-linolenic acid is properly metabolized. But EPA and DHA are found in rich quantities in fish oil, where the metabolizing and conversions have already been completed.

These two acids are synthesized from ocean phytoplankton, which are the first links in the food chain of fishes. DHA is a primary part of the neuronal membranes that influence the proper activity of neurological transmitters. DHA is a key to a healthy mood and retinal health. It is recommended for maternal nutrition, as it is essential for the growth and functional development of the fetal and infant brain and visual system.

EPA assists in thinning our blood and dilating blood vessels. It is the fatty acid most associated with a healthy cardiovascular system, and it regulates the 1- and 3-series thromboxanes, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes, chemical mediators that help regulate physiological processes including blood pressure and blood clotting.

DHA and EPA together support heart health by enhancing nitric oxide production. Both EPA and DHA inhibit 2- and 4-series interleukins and prostaglandins, compounds associated with overstimulation of inflammatory response.†

Both EPA and DHA inhibit low density lipoprotein (“bad” LDL cholesterol) synthesis in the liver, thereby supporting healthy circulation. DHA and EPA influence our genetic expression toward good health. This complicated process, called gene regulation, actually stimulates our DNA toward good health. In its resting state, DNA is coiled around proteins called histones and resides in the nucleus of the cell.

EPA and DHA can trigger certain proteins to go into the nucleus and unwind specific areas of the DNA that contain the coded templates for different functions. Once unraveled, the DNA double strand is “un-zipped.” The DNA message is transcribed onto messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) which transfers the DNA instructions to the cell on what proteins to produce or what healthy actions to take.

EPA and DHA for Heart, Joints and Immunity

Omega-3s are among the most important compounds you can take for supporting a healthy heart. Omega-3s maintain the activity of L-type calcium channels during periods of stress. EPA and DHA also have been shown to reduce resting heart rate and increase left ventricular filling capacity.†

Omega-3 fatty acids produce healthy eicosanoids, like prostaglandins E-1 and E-3, leukotriene B-5 and thromboxane A-3, compounds that support healthy arteries. Fish oil enhances nitric oxide production, which promotes blood vessel relaxation. Arterial elasticity is increased with both EPA and DHA supplementation. EPA and DHA also stimulate fatty acid oxidation in the liver by increasing transcription of regulatory enzymes. Studies also show substantial lowering of triglyceride levels with fish oil supplementation.

DHA and Healthy Brain Function

It has been stated in so many ways, for so many years, but let’s say it once more: Fish oil is brain food. More specifically, DHA omega-3 fatty acid accounts for six percent of the dry matter of the cerebral cortex and it supports and protects neurological transmissions.

DHA protects the neurons in the hippocampus, the brain’s seat of learning, memory, and emotion. It has also been found to limit occasional low feelings or mood imbalances, which affect learning, and it has been found to help the emotions adapt during times of stress.†One reason for this is that DHA has been shown to regenerate neurons in the hippocampus.

Omega-3s and Mood Health

The good news is that studies have suggested that omega 3 fatty acids can be helpful in boosting mood after prolonged periods of physical or mental stress. Scientists first became interested when they noticed that countries with the highest fish consumption had the lowest rates of depression. They also observed that mothers in England who ate very little fish during pregnancy doubled their risk of developing postpartum depression compared to women who ate fish regularly. So scientists began a series of studies to see why. For example:

• Researchers noted in a 1998 report in the Journal of Affective Disorders that lower levels of omega 3’s in the red blood cell membranes of patients with depression.
• At Sheffield University in England, Dr. Malcolm Peet gave omega-3 fatty acids to 70 depressed patients who had not been helped by drugs such as Prozac. After 12 weeks, 69 percent of the patients showed marked improvement compared with 25 percent given placebos.

One reason why increased consumption of fish oils would improve mood health is because it helps reduce AA (arachidonic acid) levels. In addition, researchers have found that the higher the intake of fish oil, the greater the improvement in the AA/EPA ratio. This ratio has also been found to correlate strongly with an uplifted and balanced mood and mental outlook. And, while researchers agree that more studies need to be done to better understand the exact mechanisms involved in taking omega 3’s for maintaining mood health, they also feel it is possible that increased levels of omega 3’s may make it easier for serotonin (a chemical responsible for positive moods) to pass through cell membranes.

Furthermore, using an imaging test known as SPECT, researchers have found that blood flow within a normal brain is uniform, whereas blood flow in those who struggle with maintaining mood health is scattered with "holes" in which little or no blood flow is observed. Since high-dose fish oil can improve blood flow, we now have another potential clue to explain the molecular basis of ongoing sadness or declining mood health.

Case Studies on Omega3s and Pain Reduction

1. Two of the patients in the case series had cervical neck pain due to injuries sustained from a motor vehicle accident (a common occurrence in fibro). A third patient was an auto mechanic with carpal tunnel syndrome due to repetitive strain of his job, another was a nurse with an arm injury from lifting patients that developed into fibromyalgia, and the fifth subject was a burn patient. All five patients had tried lots of therapies before being placed on EPA/DHA in amounts from 2,400 mg to 7,200 mg per day.


2. Prior to supplementing with the omega-3 fatty acids, the fibromyalgia patient could barely do household chores, such as vacuuming the carpet, and her pain was 8 on a scale of 0 to 10 (where 0 is no pain and 10 is worst possible pain). After taking EPA/DHA for seven months, her function and grip strength were much improved and she rated her pain 3 on the scale.


3. Both cervical neck pain patients took 4,800 mg per day of EPA/DHA, and after eight months muscle strength, grip strength, and function were restored. One returned to ice hockey and the other resumed actively working out in the gym. In fact, the latter patient boosted his daily dose to 7,200 mg and noticed "sharper brain function and feeling clear-headed." The mechanic took 3,000 mg of EPA/DHA per day and after eight months was back to full-time work. The burn patient initially took 2,400 mg of EPA/DHA and slowly increased to high-dose omega-3 fatty acids. After several months his pain was reduced in half.

All of these patients had serious pain, but after many months of omega-3 fatty acid therapy, their pain levels slowly came down and their function returned. This is only a small sampling of patients, and the study lacks a control group for comparison so the results are strongly biased in favor of the patient feeling better. However, some of the parameters for patient improvement represented objective measures, and the increased physical functioning of these patients after many months of omega-3 supplementation was quite dramatic.†

Other suggestions provided by the research team to help ensure greater success with treating pain:

• Patients should not expect quick results, but rather anticipate giving the omega-3 fatty acids a six-month trial.
• If you experience stomach difficulties or nausea from taking omega-3s, you can search for a brand that is enteric-coated.
• Digestion is improved when omega-3 fatty acids are taken with food. It is also best to split the dosage up to take with several meals instead of ingesting the supplements all at once.
• Do not take omega-6 or omega-9 fatty acid supplements. The typical North American diet is already loaded with plenty of omega-6, and they tend to promote, instead of relieve inflammation.
• Reduce intake of foods high in the pain-promoting substance arachidonic acid, which includes red meat and fried foods.
• Be sure your diet contains plenty amounts of vitamin B6, magnesium and zinc. Also avoid excessive intake of trans-fatty acids and caffeine.
• Long-lasting lifestyle changes need to be adopted to ensure long-term pain relief. This includes physical activity, stress reduction, keeping a regular sleep schedule, and eating a healthy diet.
• People who take high-dose omega-3 (7,000 mg and up) require special routine laboratory testing, and all patients should consult their physician before initiating a new supplement.

Purity and Quality

Pure, concentrated fish oils are one of the most important additions modern people can make in their daily health programs. Hundreds of studies show that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids supports the mind, the heart, the kidneys, the immune system. Rarely does a nutrient so powerfully and positively impact the human body.

There are twelve deep metabolic systems that are crucial for understanding and meeting the health challenges that face us in today’s world. Of the twelve systems, amazingly, eight are positively supported by omega-3 supplementation:

• Cells/DNA
• Inflammation Response
• Sugar Regulation
• Liver Detoxification
• Circulation
• Cognition and Nerves
• Immunity
• Hormones
• Metabolism

ArcticPure® fish oils are premium omega-3 oils with outstanding levels of purity and are among the highest potencies available today. They are an effective, powerful tool to support your health and vitality. The softgel contains a potent 850 mg of omega-3s per capsule, and the Liquid contains 1,400 mg of of omega-3s per teaspoon.

Does Source Naturals have to go to the ends of the earth for the best omega-3 fish oils? Yes, as a matter of fact they do. Their commitment to quality doesn’t stop at searching the world’s oceans for the cleanest, most abundant sources of the highest-quality fish. The quality of the omega-3 fish oils and their benefits to your body depend on the purity and freshness of the oil in all phases of its manufacturing and production.

Source Naturals' bottling and encapsulation processes follow the highest standards, meeting and exceeding purity standards and pharmaceutical protocol of the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Their commitment to quality ensures that you have the finest, purest, most potent oils available.

Historic Benefits Confirmed by Research

Recent appreciation of fish oils arose from studies of the Inuit peoples of Greenland, whose health had long puzzled health researchers. The Inuit diet is the opposite of what we commonly think of as healthy—no fresh vegetables or fruits, little fiber, a diet heavily composed of proteins and fats. But the people are relatively quite healthy.

Danish investigators were the first to determine that the key to Inuit health was the omega-3 fatty acids from the Inuit’s fish-laden diet. That research from the 70s sparked worldwide fascination with the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Current research of fish oils and omega-3 properties continues, but now, as researchers understand the compounds more fully, the benefits of omega-3 fish oils are confirmed: fish oils offer astonishing benefits to the circulatory system, to the brain, and to the immune system. Fish oil is among the most important additions modern people can make in their dietary regimen.

Pollution Has Made Much Seafood Toxic

Yet just as Americans have begun to eat more seafood, studies have shown that fishes from numerous sources are unsafe because of high amounts of heavy metals, particularly mercury, and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl—poisonous compounds often found in industrial waste)

Modern practices such as dredging, processing fossil fuels, smelting, and fish farming have all contributed to the poisoning of the Earth’s waters. Unless you are quite sure of the purity of the water where they were caught, eating fish to obtain the benefits of natural fish oils is, sadly, a difficult choice.

Source Naturals offers you the benefits of healthy fish oils, from fishes caught in the Arctic Ocean, the North Sea, the North Atlantic, and other clean bodies of water, then processed with unique distillation methods to extract and further purify the oils. The ArcticPure fish oil products are among the purest oils available, with superior product stability. Natural flavorings give our ArcticPure oils a taste that is pleasing to both children and adults. Compare our oils to others.

If your oil smells rancid—the “fishy” smell many people complain of—you are not receiving fresh, pure fish oil, and you are robbing your body of nutrients. Fish oil is prone to spoilage and oxidation by exposure to oxygen; if the omega-3 oils in your supplement smell “fishy” they are oxidized and they may have become partially rancid—limiting their usefulness to your body. Extraordinary measures must be taken to keep oxidation of the oils at the barest minimum.

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References

• Connor WE. (2000) Importance of n-3 fatty acids in health and disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 71(suppl):171S-175S.
• Kris-Etherton P, et al. (2002) Fish consumption, Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Cardiovascular Disease. Circulation. 106:2747-2757.
• James M, et al. (2000). Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory mediator production. Am J Clin Nutr. 71(suppl):343S-348S.
• Burgess J, et al. (2000) Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Am J Clin Nutr.71(Suppl): 327S-330S.
• Horrocks L, et al. (1999) Health Benefits of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). Pharmacological Research. 40:211-225.
• Simopoulos AP, (2002). The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. BBiomed Pharmacother. 56:365-379.
• Holman RT. (1998). The slow discovery of the importance of omega 3 essential fatty acids in human health. J Nutr. 128:427S-433S.
• Ozgocmen S, et al. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 38:362-3, 2000.
• Ko GD, et al. Clin J Pain 26:168-72, 2010.