Fish oil causing high cholesterol?

[braidyn]

I started taking fish oil supplements about a year and a half ago because I was told that it would help support a healthy heart and I hate fish. My cholesterol and triglycerides were both normal when I added the supplement to my daily regiment. Since then every time I have my blood drawn my numbers are rising. When I first noticed them on the rise I went from regular MegaRed to Extra Strength MegaRed and after that my numbers increased dramatically. I am wondering if adding the supplement has caused my cholesterol to rise or is it only a coincidence? If it could have effected my numbers if I stop taking it would  my numbers to eventually go back to normal or am I going to have to go on a statin? I did try taking niacin but it makes my throat/tongue and cheeks feel weird. Not hot or itchy but sort of like a slightly swollen sensation. I have no redness or rash and also no breathing problems or caughing just the strange sensation of swelling.  I can not find this as a side effect therefore I am afraid I could have an allergy to Niacin

Cholesterol, Total 209
Triglycerides/100
HDL/60
VLDL/20
LDL/129
LDL/HDL Radio 2.2
Non-HDL 149

[sherlockblue]

International Life Care Hungary on youtube, very interesting..

[sherlockblue]

your total cholesterol is not really high...they want you to think that, i read a great book on statins, and if you have no other medical issues your total cholesterol of 209 is fine as optimal is 200 total cholesterol.. If your cholesterol is over 264 then you should be on a statin.
total cholesterol - optimal is 200.   I am tired of everyone saying it has to be under 200, 200 is optimal and 209 is just above that. 200 - 239 is only borderline high 239 and up is high. Your good cholesterol and triglycerides are great. In the end you have to make choices for yourself.  I certainly don't want diabetes from statins.  Remember the pharmaceuticals are getting rich, by scaring us into statins.
Just my opinion, you have to do what you think is right, i for one is not taking fish oil any more, it does make my LDL go up significantly.

[sherlockblue]

I agree i have been taking 1000mg fish oil supplement and every time i got to the doctor my ldl has gone up 3 different times significantly and i know i have been eating  very healthy, i am going to stop taking it, because it just doesn't make sense. It seems to have the opposite affect on my cholesterol.

[SusiRN]

I have never heard of this happening but in any case it's probably best to change to a good quality Omega-3. It was the only thing that helped lower my cholesterol,  bring my triglycerides down, and raise my good cholesterol. Omega-3 are not just for cholesterol but they are anti-inflammatory, and support heart health, brain health, and so much more. Inflammation is the cause of most diseases Omega-3 are essential, not too many foods have them in the right ratios. If anything it is the one supplement everyone needs to be on! Good luck sometimes it's trial and error....wee what works best for you and whatever you do please do not go on a statin!!!!  

[GNPC]

Yes indeed it does 100%.
I used to take between 1000 and 3000mg of fish oil a day thinking it was good for me and healthy and would prevent heart disease as I got older.
I did this for like 10 years.
My Cholesterol Triglycerides LDL/HDL was always ever increasing into the bad territory almost to the Dr giving me a pill and sending me for cardiac tests.
One day I decided it cost to much and I didn't care anymore so I stopped taking it.
18 months later all my lipids are normal with absolutely no change in lifestyle at all.
It messes with the cholesterol test even if you fast for 24 hours before it and take no Fish Oil, it takes months for your lipids to return to normal.
I now think its just another gimmick con sold to us.
I spent thousands on this over the years.

[gregTivar]

Food's cholesterol content only affects cholesterol level in 5%. It is not significant. The problem is with the malfunciton of cholesterol metabolism, check International Life Care Hungary on google. They have a treatment which can cure atheroslcerosis and this site reviews the myths surronding cholesterol quite understandable

[marie4u]

use olive oil. its good

[homeflash]

On top of fish oil, i suggest red yeast rice with coq10.  Mine cholesterol was high a year ago, will take a test this may/june.  I have been taking fish oil a year, not sure if it helps, now added red yeast rice, in two months I will go for a test and see.

[Anitamohan]

"Hi Bradyn,
I dont think it is because of the supplement. It’s probably because of the kind of oil you are using for cooking. I was also facing the same problem, my cholesterol was hitting the roof and when I consulted my doctor, I found out that my cholesterol problem was because of my cooking oil. I changed to Saffola Total oil which is a blend of rice bran oil and safflower oil and it is supposed to be very good for controlling cholesterol. It has double the amount of antioxidants, which helps in keeping the heart healthy and Losorb technology ensures that my food is not too oily. I hope this helps you!  

[Flycaster305]

As I understand the science, fish oil tend to raise the HDL cholesterol, so if other diet or drug changes aren't made, your cholesterol would probably rise.  That said, the better the ratio of HDL to LDL, the better it will be for your heart.  

[gymdandee]

Cholesterol and Triglyceride Lowering Foods
Mushrooms (maitake, Shiitake ), Dark Chocolate ( Raw Organic Cacao ),
Pomegranates, Almonds, Garlic, Fish and Fish Oil,
Wild Blueberries ( you can buy them frozen ), Apples, Avocados.

As for Krill oil I suggest trying
Source Naturals Arctic Pure Krill Oil  take 3 grams per day.
If this doesn't help then ask your doctor about taking Nature's Plus Herbal Actives Red Yeast Rice Check the link below!

https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/Red-Yeast-Rice-Supplements-Review/Red_Yeast_Rice/

Also consider taking New Chapter Supercritical Omega-7

[dolphin8808]

I was wondering this myself as I have NEVER had a problem with cholesterol until taking fish oils either?

[wh2399]

It's hard to say if the fish oil is causing this or not.  I take fish oil per my doc and it has no effect on either my BP or cholesterol count.  I would take a very close look at your diet and scrutinize it very closely.  Animal protein of any kind, dairy and oils of any kind can raise your cholesterol.  Don't worry about the HDL so much, but focus on getting the total <150 and LDL ideally less than 80.  This is a level that will prevent heart disease.

[ahmedjay]

There is no science to prove that.

http://authoritynutrition.com/saturated-fat-good-or-bad/

http://chriskresser.com/the-diet-heart-myth-cholesterol-and-saturated-fat-are-not-the-enemy/

[annemoore29]

We all know that fich is high in cholesterol

[Flycaster305]

As a retired commercial salmon fisherman, I have an opinion... the percentage of deep ocean caught salmon oil that is captured in Omega3 oils is pretty small, most of the Omega3 oils come from Chilean or Canadian farmed salmon.  I've had my hands in the bodies of literally tons of Ocean-caught salmon, and the flesh is firm, pink, and full of fat.  When I examine the fish at the market, I see a product in most cases that is pink, from chemicals to color it, weak, from not having to work for a living, and wanting for fat.  For this reason, I select an Omega3 oil from sardines and mackeral, which can't be farmed fish.  The reason doctors push you to highly filtered prescription-grade fish oil is because farmed fish also tend to have high mercury concentrations, and certainly that isn't healthy, the filtered product removes that problem. To repeat, most fish oil Omega3/6/9
products come from farmed fish, and if unfiltered, is highly concentrated with pottutents.
I'd research the fish oil, select as Jon suggests ocean-caught fish oil, but almost always, that is anchovy, sardine, tuna or mackeral products.  I personally avoid Salmon over the counter pills.  

[erijon]

It's really simple, don't be fooled by the dosage on the bottles. They range from 1,000 mg to 2,000 mg. Look at the lable on the back for the total amount of DHA/EPA per day and make sure it's over 600 mg combined. Also, try to find one made froma  deep ocean fish, salmon is a good one.

Jon

[braidyn]

Yes it is krill oil and both my LDL and HDL raised when I started taking it. If I can keep from taking a statin I want to. I want to try diet changes before getting on any drugs. I know they plan on checking me again in 90 days and then I will consider a statin if I have to. My endo had suggested that many fish oils contain large amounts of cholesterol and that if I felt I had to be on fish oil that I should see about taking a prescription but I hear that is extremely costly. I also read somewhere that MegaRed is not as good as it once was and that is what caused me to wonder if it could be the krill oil causing the rise. How do I know which brands are best and not filled with cholesterol?

[erijon]

Flycaster is correct, Mega Red is a krill oil. Get a good deep ocean fish oil made from salmon. Also, look to make sure a days dosage will exceed a total DHA/EPA of 600.

Jon

[Flycaster305]

I don't know for sure, but I think the brand you are taking isn't fish oil, but isn't it krill oil?  You might try taking a good fish oil tablet, 2000 grams daily... that's what I take.
Your total cholesterol is high, but so is your HDL  - the good cholesterol.  Have both the LDL and HDL gone up, or just the HDL?  If so the MegaRed is doing what it does best, raise the good cholesterol.
If I had your cholesterol test, I would mix in a Statin.  You will be tested after 90 days and if you have an adverse reaction (there is only a tiny chance) the blood tests will catch it.  I sure wish I'd taken one when my cholesterol started rising, believe me, there is hell to pay if it spirals.
Keep us informed.