More people are choosing to take fish oil supplements – and for good reason. The omega-3's found in fatty fish and fish oil supplements have shown a variety of health benefits. They appear to lower triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease and thrombotic stroke. They also have anti-inflammatory properties which may help to relieve some of the pain and stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Although fish oil supplements have significant health benefits, they're not always well tolerated. What are the side effects of taking fish oil?

    One of the most common side effects of taking fish oil supplements is digestive upset. Many people report mild nausea and bloating after taking fish oil capsules. It's also not uncommon to experience increased flatulence and a "fishy" taste in the mouth. In some cases, these symptoms come from taking rancid fish oils, so it's important not to take oils that are past their expiration date. Taking them with meals is another way to reduce the unpleasant fishy taste. These mild, but frequent, side effects of taking fish oil will often subside once the body adjusts to them.

    Another potential concern when taking fish oil capsules is the risk of bleeding. Because fish oil capsules affect the function of platelets which help clot the blood, there's the concern that they could cause bleeding problems in some individuals. This is why people taking prescription blood thinners should avoid using them – particularly if taking more than two grams a day. Some experts have recently questioned this risk – believing that the risk is more theoretical , but it's best to err on the side of caution.

    People who are on a weight loss diet where calorie intake is closely monitored should be aware that fish oil supplements are not calorie-free and could cause weight if not compensated for by reducing calories elsewhere. Some studies have shown they can also increase LDL cholesterol levels by up to ten percent, so this should be closely monitored.

    Finally, many people worry about fish oil supplements being contaminated with mercury and PCB's that are commonly found in the bodies of fatty fish. Studies suggest that fish oil capsules may actually be safer than eating the fish itself. When fish oil capsules were tested from a variety of manufacturers, most were found to be very low in mercury and PCB's. Most reputable fish oil manufacturers use molecular distillation to remove harmful contaminants which is a very effective process. Pharmaceutical grade fish oil capsules are also available that are virtually contamination free.

    The bottom line? Most of the side effects of taking fish oil supplements are relatively minor, but it's important to take them under a doctor's care, especially if taking blood thinners, and to buy from a reputable manufacturer that uses molecular distillation to remove harmful impurities.

    许多人选择服用鱼油补充剂--并有合理的解释：高油脂鱼类被发现含有Omega 3（一组多元不饱和脂肪酸）,鱼油补充剂则有广泛保健作用，可降低甘油三脂水平，降血压，及减少心脏疾病和栓塞性中风的风险。它们还被发现具有抗炎作用，这将有助于减轻风湿性关节炎的疼痛和僵硬。尽管鱼油补充剂有显着地保健效果，却并不总是耐受良好。那么，服用鱼油有哪些副作用呢？

    一个最常见的副作用是消化系统紊乱。服用鱼油胶囊后，许多人有轻微反胃和胃胀气现象。增加肠胃胀气和口中"鱼腥"味儿也是鱼油服用者中的常见现象。有时，这些症状缘于变质鱼油，所以，超过保质期的产品一定不要使用。随餐服用也是减少讨厌的鱼腥味儿的一个办法。一旦身体调整适应，服用鱼油导致的这些轻微却常犯的副作用将会降低。

    服用鱼油胶囊的另一个潜在问题是增加出血的风险。因为鱼油胶囊影响血小板凝血功能，因此有人担心它们可能会对某些个体引起出血问题。这就是为什么服薄血药的人不能服用鱼油--尤其是一天超过两克。近来一些专家质疑这种风险--认为它过于理论化，但出于谨慎避免犯错总是好的。

    进行节食减肥控制卡路里摄入量的人应该知道，鱼油补充剂并非不含卡路里，如果不另外减少卡路里同样也可能引起增重。一些研究标明，鱼油还可能引起LDL胆固醇水平升高达10%,所以，应对此予以严密监控。

    最后，因为高油脂鱼类体内常发现汞和PCB类物质，许多人担心鱼油补充剂因此遭受污染。研究表明鱼油胶囊确实要比直接吃鱼来的安全。从众多厂家中测试鱼油胶囊时，大多数的汞和PCB类物质含量还是很低的。多数知名鱼油厂家通过高真空蒸馏法去除有害污染物，这是一道很有效的工序。确实做到无污染的药品级鱼油胶囊也可行。

    总的来说？服用鱼油补充剂的多数副作用还是很小的，但是，特别对于服用薄血药的人，一定要听取医生建议，同时向使用高真空蒸馏法去除有害杂质的知名厂家购买。