Fish Oil (Robb Wolf Fish Oil Calculator)

[dmw16]

Well since my last post regarding working out on the road my situation has changed for the better. I am still traveling, but I will be staying in the same place every week. So I've found a CrossFit gym and just finished my intro program (so I'll start group classes Monday).

Anyway, the trainer suggested I look at Robb Wolf's fish oil calculator. So I did and I was shocked at how much fish oil is suggested.

Based on all the factors and selecting the most potent (high in EPA+DHA) it is still telling me to take what seems like a huge (and expensive) dose.

So first off, do you guys think that the amount suggested by Robb Wolf's calculator are good numbers to go on. And secondly, where can I find very high EPA+DHA softgels (the liquid is just too gross for me).

 

[KoolDrew]

The saturation point of DHA is around 1.2g per day. Taking anymore isn't going to help and can effect immune function. Whatever pills you do take stick to around 1.8-3g combined EPA/DHA. With standard pills (180/120) this would work out to be 6-10 pills a day, spread throughout the day.

You don't need potent fish oil pills, just pay attention to how much EPA/DHA is in each. If you're looking for bulk fish oil, I'd highly suggest checking out trueprotein.com. They have 1000 standard pills for only $23.27, plus shipping. Shoot me an PM if you'd like an additional 5% off as well.

 

[dmw16]

The saturation point of DHA is around 1.2g per day. Taking anymore isn't going to help and can effect immune function. Whatever pills you do take stick to around 1.8-3g combined EPA/DHA. With standard pills (180/120) this would work out to be 6-10 pills a day, spread throughout the day.

You don't need potent fish oil pills, just pay attention to how much EPA/DHA is in each. If you're looking for bulk fish oil, I'd highly suggest checking out trueprotein.com. They have 1000 standard pills for only $23.27, plus shipping. Shoot me an PM if you'd like an additional 5% off as well.

PM'd you.

So based on the trueprotein fish oil pills, I'd want to take (at most) 10/day which would put me at 1.2g of DHA and a total of 3g DHA+EPA.

I was suspicious of the huge amounts suggested by the Robb Wolf calculator. The trainers at the CrossFit gym seem pretty knowledgeable with regards to weight lifting and fitness, but I tend to be weary of things that lean towards medical advice (like amounts of supplements to take).

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Well since my last post regarding working out on the road my situation has changed for the better. I am still traveling, but I will be staying in the same place every week. So I've found a CrossFit gym and just finished my intro program (so I'll start group classes Monday).

Anyway, the trainer suggested I look at Robb Wolf's fish oil calculator. So I did and I was shocked at how much fish oil is suggested.

Based on all the factors and selecting the most potent (high in EPA+DHA) it is still telling me to take what seems like a huge (and expensive) dose.

So first off, do you guys think that the amount suggested by Robb Wolf's calculator are good numbers to go on. And secondly, where can I find very high EPA+DHA softgels (the liquid is just too gross for me).

Research has shown that individuals respond well to levels of 2000 to 2400mg of EPA/DHA. For most capsules, that translates into about 8 capsules per day.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I take 4 of these every night. 1000mg, 250 Softgels for $9.99 with 300mg of EPA/DHA.
http://www.vitaminworld.com/pages/f...4062BC68F0FE4450D25B&PID=396&CID=851&CPID=658

 

[darkxshade]

I take the NOW Ultra Omega-3's. They come in 1g softgels of 500epa/250dha. It allows me to take 3 a day(instead of 8-10), one for each breakfast, lunch, and dinner with my multivitamin totaling 2250mg of epa/dha. It has worked well for me.

 

[magomago]

The saturation point of DHA is around 1.2g per day. Taking anymore isn't going to help and can effect immune function. Whatever pills you do take stick to around 1.8-3g combined EPA/DHA. With standard pills (180/120) this would work out to be 6-10 pills a day, spread throughout the day.

You don't need potent fish oil pills, just pay attention to how much EPA/DHA is in each. If you're looking for bulk fish oil, I'd highly suggest checking out trueprotein.com. They have 1000 standard pills for only $23.27, plus shipping. Shoot me an PM if you'd like an additional 5% off as well.

Is that gel cap porcine, bovine, or synthetic? I need to buy some more fish oil very soon (within the week), and this might be the ticket if you could put another 5% off.... Thanks Kooldrew

 

[mchammer187]

I take member's mark which I get from Sam's club which are huge though (1.4g each) but they claim 900 mg of EPA/DHA per pill and I take 3 of those a day

 

[KoolDrew]

Is that gel cap porcine, bovine, or synthetic? I need to buy some more fish oil very soon (within the week), and this might be the ticket if you could put another 5% off.... Thanks Kooldrew

I'm not sure. Your best bet would be to contact them and ask them. I can provide you with a coupon code though. The reason I didn't post the coupon code in this thread is because it is a referral thing. Pretty much if you use my code you get 5% off and after so many new purchases (like $300 worth), I get free protein. I just don't want it to look like I'm recommending them just due to that fact, as that's not the case.

 

[highland145]

Been taking 4 am/4 pm + 1tsp cod liver for ~2 years for joint pain in the knees. Has helped a lot and haven't noticed a downside. Does thin your blood. Nutritionist told me to cut back if I had nose bleeds or noticed any excessive bruising.

 

[Kipper]

Research has shown that individuals respond well to levels of 2000 to 2400mg of EPA/DHA. For most capsules, that translates into about 8 capsules per day.

SC, where are you getting your numbers from? As far as I know no official body has issued specific recommendations for EPA/DHA. The Rx dosage is 1860 mg EPA and 1500 mg DHA, but that is in conjunction with statin therapy and seems excessive as a prophylatic measure.

I should also throw in that the quality of fish oils varies greatly between manufacturers and you want additional refining to pull out toxins and heavy metals (most fish oil is derived from livers and skins of fish). Generally, you do get what you pay for.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

SC, where are you getting your numbers from? As far as I know no official body has issued specific recommendations for EPA/DHA. The Rx dosage is 1860 mg EPA and 1500 mg DHA, but that is in conjunction with statin therapy and seems excessive as a prophylatic measure.

I should also throw in that the quality of fish oils varies greatly between manufacturers and you want additional refining to pull out toxins and heavy metals (most fish oil is derived from livers and skins of fish). Generally, you do get what you pay for.

No, this is not from an official body. This is just an application of research. If I'm going to wait for official bodies to back new nutritional findings, I may as well wait another 20 years. The article is "The effect of n-3 fatty acids on plasma lipids and lipoproteins and blood pressure in patients with CRF" (Svensson et al). The researchers explored the effects of fish oil in these individuals (those with chronic renal failure) since they have an uncanny rate of heart/artery pathology. These individuals have high cholesterol levels, but not so high as to be causing their significantly increased risk of CVD. The research just wanted to see how much fish oil would correct their cholesterol levels. I was incorrect though - they utilized 2400mg of fish oil pills, only 60% of which was actually EPA/DHA. That converts to about 1500mg of EPA/DHA total. This is just the research I have on hand right now. Clearly, there's research that fish oil is beneficial. I don't eat that much fresh fish so I supplement accordingly. If I ate more fish, I would definitely cut my fish oil consumption back. I believe, right now, that I am actually consuming around 1500mg EPA/DHA total per day.

 

[MrMatt]

Has anyone here actually noticed ANY difference when taking fish oil? I tried for a while and honestly did not notice any difference in strength, body composition, or joint health.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Has anyone here actually noticed ANY difference when taking fish oil? I tried for a while and honestly did not notice any difference in strength, body composition, or joint health.

Huh? Do you notice a difference with most supplements (i.e. does a protein shake make you feel better recovered)? Fish oil acts on a plethora of things, but not on a huge scale. It modifies your lipid profiles mainly, reducing your risk of heart disease. That doesn't have a feeling that comes with it. It's also believed to improve cognitive function, reduce inflammation, etc. These are not large scale effects, although they are typically testable in a laboratory. Fish oil isn't going to make you stronger or make your joints hurt less. It is, however, going to improve your body's ability to cope with physical stress by reducing global inflammation. Really though, don't take it for strength gains. Take it for overall health.

 

[highland145]

Huh? Do you notice a difference with most supplements (i.e. does a protein shake make you feel better recovered)? Fish oil acts on a plethora of things, but not on a huge scale. It modifies your lipid profiles mainly, reducing your risk of heart disease. That doesn't have a feeling that comes with it. It's also believed to improve cognitive function, reduce inflammation, etc. These are not large scale effects, although they are typically testable in a laboratory. Fish oil isn't going to make you stronger or make your joints hurt less. It is, however, going to improve your body's ability to cope with physical stress by reducing global inflammation. Really though, don't take it for strength gains. Take it for overall health.

Like I said before, big difference on the knees. I was almost at the point of giving up the bike. Now, nothing I can't live with. I am taking a lot though.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

Has anyone here actually noticed ANY difference when taking fish oil? I tried for a while and honestly did not notice any difference in strength, body composition, or joint health.

My experience with fish oil is 100% anecdotal, but I can tell you that I have felt a general positive change in recovery and energy level since starting it. This could easily be attributable to many other factors, including an improvement in diet and the ongoing benefits of the Starting Strength routine I've been strictly following, but I'll note that I didn't start taking fish oil until a few months into this. Like SC points out, there was no marked change in strength or any other large impact, but at this point I'm convinced that the fish oil supplements definitely don't hurt.