Taking Fish Oil Supplements — Without Fishy Burps

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Do fish oil supplements just seem too ... well ... fishy?

The February issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter explains some health benefits of this diet supplement and ways to overcome the occasional fishy aftertaste.

Fish oil supplements are especially good for those who want the heart health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids but don't like to eat fish. Fish oil supplements often are prescribed for heart attack survivors; the supplements can help prevent future heart problems. They also are prescribed for people with high triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood.

Tips to avoid fishy aftertaste or burps include:

— Swallow the capsule frozen. This slows the breakdown of fish oil in the stomach, often reducing fishy burps. The fish oil is still digested effectively.

— Take the capsule at the beginning of a meal. Food traps the fish oil in the stomach, and mixing buffers the odor.

— Try an "odorless" supplement. This type of coated capsule passes through the stomach and dissolves in the intestines.

— Switch brands. A different brand may taste less fishy. For fish oil purists, some manufacturers make a pure omega-3 fatty acids product that doesn't taste fishy, although it is likely to cost more than standard products.

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Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call 800-333-9037 (toll-free), extension 9771, or visit www.healthletter.mayoclinic.com.

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