Side Effects and Possible Risks of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3s appear to be safe for most adults at low-to-moderate doses. There have been some safety questions raised about
fish oil supplements because certain species of fish can be contaminated with substances from the environment, like:
- Mercury
- PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)
- Pesticides.
Fish oil is on the list of food substances that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers to be "generally recognized as safe." How well a product is prepared is another factor for consumers to consider.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take fish oil supplements. Fish oil in high doses can possibly interact with, and affect the action of, certain medications, including blood-thinning drugs and drugs for
high blood pressure.
Potential side effects of fish oil include:
- Belching
- Stomach disturbances
- Nausea
- A fishy aftertaste.
Diabetes Supplements: Chromium
The benefit of added chromium as a
diabetes supplement has been studied and debated for several years. Several studies report that chromium supplementation may improve diabetes control. Chromium is needed to make glucose tolerance factor, which helps insulin improve its action. Currently, there is insufficient information on the use of chromium as an alternative treatment for diabetes, so no recommendations for diabetes supplementation yet exist.
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