Supplement Guide: Fish Oil

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Safety of Fish Oil Supplements with Gout

Q: A doctor advised me to take fish oil supplements to improve my cholesterol level. But the source of fish oil in many preparations includes sardines, trout and herring – fish that are high in purines and on the list of foods I should avoid because I have gout. How much purine is in fish oil supplements? Should I take them or not?

A: Purines are found in the meat of the fish but not in highly purified, molecularly distilled fish oil, so it should not affect your gout. I recommend everyone consume at least 2,000 milligrams (mg) per day of EPA and DHA (two fatty acids in fish oil crucial to human health). Those with autoimmune disorders and arthritis should consume 3,000 to 6,000 mg in divided doses with meals.

Buy only pharmaceutical-grade, molecularly distilled fish oil supplements. And go to the supplement company’s Web site and make sure you research what you’re getting. Also, know that using fish oil supplements to bring down your cholesterol level may thin your blood. If you have any bleeding disorders or already are taking medications to thin your blood, such as clopidogrel (Plavix) or warfarin (Coumadin), please talk to your doctor.

James McKoy, MD, Rheumatologist

delise gauze

07 Feb 2012, 18:23

its about 2months i started to notice the bone beside my toes started to getting bigger iwas wondering if it beacause i do a lot of walking to and on my job.now that im reading a gout im wodering if thats what i got.im taking simvastatin for high cholesterol and i do take fishoil but i notice whei take them both i feltso sick in my stomach, please tell me if im not to take both.or if that swelling could be gout,thanks im so concern and waiting 4 ur advise.

mihy

18 Oct 2011, 11:44

I suffer from arthritis in my ankles that was most likely triggered by an auto accident in 2003.

Within 2 years it was difficult to walk in the morning unless I slowly stretched my ankles by gripping my toes on the edge of the steps and bending my ankles downwards for 5-10 minutes. This worked for awhile but it became apparent this wasn't enough and I started using ibuprofen which was effective but played havoc with my stomach.

I started searching for more 'natural' solutions and started using omega 3 capsules and I now take 2 200:400 (1065mg) capsules in the mornings and I function well. The residence time is short lived; within three days of not taking them my pain returns but leaves within a couple of days of taking them again.

I've tried different brands and haven't found any difference - as long as they are molecularly distilled or sieved they will work. I should note that I am now 50 and I can now cycle regularly, walk the golf course, play volleyball in the winter 2 times a week - all without any arthritic consequences.

Terri

09 Oct 2011, 13:40

I have gout. I was diagnosed this year. I'd like to take the fish oil if it doesn't cause the gout attacks. I give my dog fish oil for her skin and it does wonders, so I have two large bottles of it. I guess I'll call Walgreens pharmacy to see if they know if this is the proper one for gout. I've heard that doctors don't always diagnose gout properly. Personally, I diagnosed myself by googling. I was a med secretary/transcriptionist working in a hospital for doctors 30 yrs, so I am use to researching things. I found this absolutely fabulous website, www.gout-aware.com, that helped me a lot. That's where I diagnosed myself and also started taking Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar (the only alkaline vinegar!). I take 2TB ACV in 8 oz of water 1-2 times a day--upon rising in the a.m. and before bedtime (if the second one is needed due to fat-burning cardio exercising or if I've eaten something that I shouldn't have). I recommend this ACV and the website very highly. I also recommend reading about alkaline and acidic foods. It is confusing still to me about beans--do they or do they not cause attacks? I love all kinds of beans and have stopped eating them--but they are a great source of protein. Thank you.

Thomas

04 Oct 2011, 22:00

I started taking 1000mg of fish oil (capsules) daily to reduce cholesterol, and it really worked well for that: from 248 to 212 in three months. However, it gave me my first ever attack of gout (I'm 63). The fish oil was made from sardines, mackerel, and anchovies. My uric acid went from 6 to 9.7 during the same three months. I had genetic testing from 23andme.com and found out I was heterozygous for gout. I'm taking medication to lower uric acid now, but it means giving up aspirin, my drug of choice for headaches.

Don

04 Sep 2011, 00:08

I've had gout all of my adult life, and i've only found 2 things guaranteed to kick off an attack. Aspirin and sardines.
I use the salmon fish oil which is good, and I start chewing celery seed if I feel an attack coming on.

Rick Fletcher

14 Jul 2011, 14:22

I have had gout in both big toes and both ankles off and on for the past 12 years. I took allopurinol for years and colchicine prior to that. I do not take gout medication any more, but when I do have a gout attach, I take Naproxen. I recently was put on a fish oil capsule for my high cholestral and have had 2 gout attacks in the past two weeks. I am going to get that capsule changed today. I also avoid Budweiser beer, heavy German beer (love it), and red wine. These are my gout enemies! One doctor told me years ago that colchicine is not good for gout, so I quit taking it years ago. He said it was an old gout medicine.

Bob

29 Jun 2011, 07:10

For the last 2 years I have had a hard time with gout attacks in the joint of my big toe. I took allopurinol (400mg/day), lots of water, I tried reducing beer, red meats, and then it occured to me the one thing I started 2 years ago was taking 1500mg of high level EPA omega 3, made from anchovies, and sardines (mostly). I will leave the name of the product out, but its a reputable company. I don't know if its a coincidence but the attacks have stopped, and I don't take the medication anymore. I still have to get blood work done to confirm this, but I was wondering has anyone had a similar experience?

gary dickison

04 Jun 2011, 18:09

i have gout and look forward to reading any info on subject

beverly

04 Apr 2011, 11:50

I have just been told I have the "Classic case of Gout", I am appx. 20 pounds over weight, I only drink occasional wine, months can go by without any, and when I do it's 2 glasses the most. I do LOVE to eat, I never really watch what I eat. So this is really a shock to me. I almost don't know to do, I read the lists of foods to eat, and it seems like nothing is allowed. Please give me a list of what is OK. for example is flounder or talipia fish "safe" or a good cut of beef, some say all shell fish is not good, others say shrimp and lobster are ok, spinach, asparagus different opinions. Please advise

sharon Graves

17 Feb 2011, 11:40

I was recently told I have elevated uric acid. No one mentioned gout but in my reading here I do have stiffness and pain in my feet, elbow and occasionally my hip. Could this be gout symptoms. I have no idea how long my uric acid has been elevated. Should I take fish oil capsules daily? Is there any place that would have a list of acceptable foods that could help lower uric acid? I am searching for information and answers to this new situation.

Randy

09 Dec 2010, 18:52

I inherited high uric acid and most of my family have had gout at one time or another. I never had the problem until I turned 56. It then came on all of a sudden.
I have now had gout in different toes, elbows,my ankles and my wrists,so I believe that no joint is safe from gout. I now take allipurinol and if I get Gout I take Colchicine to get rid of it. (Not drinking beer also helps greatly in preventing it.)
There have been days that I wake up and can hardly put a foot on the floor as it feels like it is broken.I usually get it in my wrists at the same time and I can hardly turn a door knob. After Colchicine and a lot of water, sometime 4 or 5 hours later I am back to normal. Strange how something so dibilitating can come and go so quickly.

Cindy

22 Nov 2010, 15:01

My husband has had excruciating pain in his knee(on the side ) off and on for months. A few days ago the pain went from his knee to his ankle with swelling. 2 days later his toe next to the big toe was so swollen it was almost the size of the big toe. I finally got him to go to Patient First, as it was Sunday nite, the Dr. there claimed she didn't see any swelling in the knee or ankle and all she did was blood pressure and an x-ray. She told him she "thought " he had fractured his toe and wrapped it tight with gauze , and said a different Dr. would check the xray today and call back. They did call back, said no broken toe, and told him to schedule an appt. with an orthopedic specialist. However, with all of his symptoms , and looking at the xray myself(of course I'm not a Dr. ) I believe he has the gout. My grandpa had this and a man my husband works with has it and told my husband last week that he believes that is what he has. I know for a fact that he was misdiagnosed at Patient First. He has his blood work done on a regular basis at our primary Health care Dr. and has mentioned his leg pain and the Dr. simply doesn't hear him?! Even though it was the toe beside the big toe that was swollen, when i looked at the xray it looked like the big toe was covered with arthritis. ( I was in a car accident many yrs. ago, have a rod in my left hip to knee) so I DO know what arthritis looks like. Is it possible for a toe, other than the big toe to swell up during gout flare up? Please help me as he can't miss work to go to the Dr. and he is a welder (works on his feet 12 hrs. a day) I am praying that it is only gout and not something more serious. Please Help. Thank you in advance. Sincerely,
Cindy (concerned wife and mother ) !!!!

martha fowler

16 Oct 2010, 22:26

For my gout I take Allopurinol (300Mg) and Fluoxetine (20mg) per day. Read an article in my doctors office one day that the combination of these two drugs reduces the pain. I say they took the pain away! I had gout in my knees and now I'm back walking in high heal shoes, walking up and down the stairs with no problems whatsoever.
I had terrible knee pain and finally my dr. discovered I had gout. I had been taken Allopurinol with about 4 months and was not working that well. Then I starting going through the "change" and the doctor prescribed Fluoxetine (glad he did!) After a few weeks no more knee paid. Then I read the article, but have been unable to find it again. Not much on this combination of drugs for gout. I'm look for any article to show my brothers doctor so he can prescribe the same thing.

Rita Orefice

21 Feb 2010, 12:19

I am taking omega 3 fish oil capsule 1000/I have gout Is it good for gout

Nancy V.

30 Dec 2009, 10:36

Kirkland, according to the label, is from deep ocean waters, not farm raised, and has used the molecular distillation process to remove PCBs and dioxins.

kody

04 Nov 2009, 10:02

so a fish oil composed of anchovies sardines and halibut for instance is safe for gout ??

Jeff Sanders

20 Jun 2009, 11:28

What about If you have lupus and gout problems? That's seems to be a lot to take in one day.I' taking Norwegian Gold Critical DHA. It has omega 3 efa's 700 mg, dha 500 mg, epa 120 mg. What do you suggest?

rose

22 Mar 2009, 09:43

is kirkland fish oil pharmaceutical-grade & molecularly distilled fish oil supplement?

how many mg of fish oil should i take for rheumtoid arthritis?

thanks

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Safety of Fish Oil Supplements with Gout

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