What is so great about Fish oil?

[jamiewantsababy]

What is so great about Fish oil? What is it supposed to do?

[TreeHugger]

It provides omega-3 fatty acids. Not all Americans' diets are lacking omega-3s though, so you'd want to talk to your RE before taking it because too much is not good either. Overall, it might give you shinier hair, but it's not likely to improve egg quality or lower FSH, like some believe.

Jennifer

[Anomaly]

Tree - you just rained on my parade!!! I'm taking it for egg quality (and my cholesteral was high at my annual). How about protein? I've heard that lots of protein helps egg quality.

[TreeHugger]

I didn't mean to rain on your parade. I'll be the first to admit that I am biased against supplements. I've seen WAY too many cases of people throwing money away on supplements they either don't need or that are harming them rather than helping.

Healthy, balanced diet. Exercise. Avoid toxins as much as possible. That, in my opinion, is the magic combination. I'm sure I'm opening a HUGE can of worms here.

[Anomaly]

No, I have no opinions and that's why I've been reading so much on these things. I'm not normally one of those people that watches what I take in so I was just trying to be good this cycle so I did what I've read. You wouldn't believe all I'm sucking down and just by your name, I can tell that you have studied more than I have on these topics. I'm more like TREE SELLER...........

[FETinGA]

Many people who have IF caused by immune problems - such as Natural Killer Cells & APA - take fish oil because it can lower the NKC.

[txstaci]

I take 5 grams a day (it doesn't hurt)
Taken from The Infertility Cure book:
Another key fatty acid, omega-3, is found in deep-sea fish oil. Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to clean the blood of fat deposits, reduce clotting, and encourage blood flow to the tissues, including the uterus. Omega-3 fatty acids also boost the immune system and have been found to reduce certain immune cells (NK, or natural killer, cells) which prevent the embryo's implantation in the uterus. The omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docohexaenoic acid (DHA) are also essential in fetal brain development.

A few of fish oil's cited benefits for Reproductive Immunology patients:

1. Decreases Natural Killer cell activity
2. Improves neural and cognitive development of the fetus in utero
3. Reduces risk of preterm delivery
4. Improves baby's birth weight
5. Reduces risk of pre-eclampsia
6. Reduces miscarriage risk in +APA patients
7. Possibly improves the quality of cycles
8. Possibly improves fertility
9. Reduces incidence of gestational diabetes
10. While breast feeding, dietary fish oil increases DHA content in
breast milk which can increase baby's IQ (in fact, many baby formulas
now adding DHA)
11. Possibly increases serotonin levels
12. Lowers insulin levels
13. Reduces the incidence of depression
14. Inexpensive
15. Over-the-counter
16. Recommended by many Reproductive Immunologists

[marsalilass]

I dunno. I think suppliments are a must in todays society. Even if you are eating organic and staying away from toxins there is no way we can get the amount of vitamins, minerals and essential oils our bodies need to perform optimally. World population is out of hand and, having to feed everyone, has severely depleted the nutritional consitution of the food we eat (because of soil depletion). We'd have to eat a ton of food a day to get everything. The food we eat today isn't even as nutrient rich as the foods they were eating 20 years ago! It's so sad. BTW-- this was a discussion with the naturopath my grandmother sees- very interesting person to talk to!

On that note, the best suppliments IMHO are whole food suppliments. They aren't a man-made subsitute for natural foods. They are usually organic and made with the whole food. The advantage is that whole food suppliments include elements that science hasn't even been able to pinpoint yet. Energies and properties of the foods we eat that they cannot replicate, but are essential for health.

Omega-3s are pretty much only found in fish. My DH hates fish and I cannot cook it to save my life! So I take it because I know I'm not getting enough of it in my diet. Same with any other suppliments-

Oh, one more thing. I'm one of those people that believes our nutritional deficiencies directly relate to the increase in IF over the years. It seems fairly logical to me. Our bodies are so complex and need so much care to function at optimal health . . and yet we're not getting that nutrition from our food anymore. Hence in increase in other diseases as well . . . again, very sad.

[hatzy]

Very interesting thread...It' so hard to research it, because you never know if what you're reading is propaganda or an advertisement. I don't want to take 30 pills a day, but like all of us, I want to give my body the nutrients it needs.

Marsalilass, all: what other supplements do you take? (besides the fish oil)

[3 ladybugs]

Originally Posted by txstaci

The omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docohexaenoic acid (DHA) are also essential in fetal brain development.

WARNING PAST CHILD MENTIONED!!!!

Per RE recommendations, I took Fish oil (1000 MG twice daily) for 3 months prior to getting pregnant. My children were born at 24 weeks (I took it as much as I could when pregnant). Now generally speaking children born this early are severely behind developmentally. Especially early on. I can tell you though that my child wasn't. In fact by the time she got to around her due date she was already rolling over (not all the time but she could clearly do it). Also before she was 5 months of age (corrected about 1 month) she was starting to "commando crawl." Most people we talked to couldn't believe it till she did it for them. I can't help but think it was because of the fish oil. Yes, some of it can be genetic. DH can qualify for Mensa but refuses to join. He has his PhD in biochem and his father has his PhD in Artificial Intelligence. But I am not that smart. Yes I have my moments but trust me I am not. Based on what I saw my dd do, there is no way I would not take Fish Oil this time. Now my dd is no longer living (please don't feel sorry for me. It is sad but I am saying this to complete a point.) so I will never know how smart she could have become. However, I am going to continue to take fish oil to see if I can produce another child maybe as smart as her.

Good luck to you and I hope you find success with it! I also second the post that said you need to be careful with it. I forget how much is too much but there is a limit to how much you should take.

Jennifer

P.S. I hope I didn't upset anyone by my post. If I did please let me know and I will remove it!