Increased total cholesterol, poor mental clarity, red eyes and sometimes blurred vision: are these the side effects of fish oil?
Dear Doctor, over the past month I stopped taking what I used to control my hereditary cholesterol, which was at a total of 230, and started taking Cardiol and Vitality (one Omegor Vitality capsule in the morning and one Cardiol capsule at lunch). Result: total cholesterol 290, poor mental clarity, frequently red eyes, and occasional blurred vision! (I will undergo a general health check-up soon). Did I get the dosage wrong? What therapy do you recommend, besides a diet low in saturated fats? What do you suggest I take, considering that Omegor will soon include krill oil in its products? Is krill useful against cholesterol? Is it true that fish oil strains the liver? Thank you for your attention. Best regards
Dear Giacomo,
the side effects of fish oil are generally mild. Usually related to overdosing, they consist of gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, diarrhea, and flatulence.
Since our products have been on the market, we have never received such reports: moreover, the symptoms you described are not associated with fish oil or other components of the products in question.
I therefore recommend that you discontinue the treatment and undergo more in-depth testing. The dosage you followed is correct, but if your cholesterol levels increased (while they remained stable with the chitosan-glucomannan product), it probably means you need the physical fat-binding action provided by those ingredients. Krill oil will soon be available in our new product: Omegor Krill.
Scientific evidence shows it is effective in lowering cholesterol, but not at the dosage allowed in the European Union, which is 1000 mg/day. Regarding your question about potential liver strain, I can assure you that Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation does not cause such issues—in fact, they are used at much higher doses for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Kind regards, I remain available for further clarification.
Dr. Rosaria Ramondino Pharmacist and Pharmaceutical Chemist
