Most EPA, DHA Products Pass ConsumerLab.com Test

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--ConsumerLab.com announced results in lateNovember of its product review of omega-3 fatty acids--eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)--from fish/marine oils. Through retail,online, direct sales and multi-level marketing sources, ConsumerLab.compurchased 20 dietary supplements, 19 of which were EPA/DHA combination productsand one containing only DHA made from algal oil, and tested them for theirlevels of EPA and DHA as claimed on the label, as well as for mercurycontamination and evidence of decomposition.

Of the 20 products tested, six failed due to inadequate amounts of DHA, whichranged from 50 percent to 80 percent of what was stated on the label. Two of theproducts were also low in EPA, containing 33 percent and 82 percent of theirclaimed amounts, respectively. In addition, two of the products that failed hadstatements on their labels that their "potency" had been either"tested" or "verified." None of the 20 products showedevidence of decomposition nor did any contain detectable levels of mercury (lessthan 1.5 ppb).

"The good news is that these fish oil supplements did not appear to posea risk of mercury poisoning--a risk that can be very real when routinelyconsuming certain fish, such as swordfish and shark," said Tod Cooperman,M.D., president of ConsumerLab.com. "The bad news is that a number ofproducts had significantly less DHA and/or EPA than claimed. This couldcertainly reduce the effectiveness of the products. It raises the issue ofwhether people who are taking omega-3 supplements to prevent or treat heartdisease, for example, are getting an effective does of DHA and EPA from theirsupplements."

ConsumerLab.com's testing methods included analyzing all products for theirEPA and DHA components by gas chromatography utilizing a modified AOAC(Association of Official Analytical Chemists, International) Official Method991.39. Products failing initial assay were retested utilizing modified AOCS(American Oil Chemists Society) methods for fatty acid determination. Todetermine peroxide values, products were analyzed using AOCS Methods CD 8-53 and12-57. A Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption method was used to determine mercurylevels.

Products that earned a passing score met three criteria: 1) meet 100 percentof label claims for EPA and DHA, not to exceed 150 percent of claimed amount; 2)have a peroxide value of no more than 10 meq/kg; and 3) have a total mercurycontent of less than 100 ppb.