Can fish oil make your body rust? And can vitamin E stop it?
Lipid peroxidation during n−3 fatty acid and vitamin E supplementation in humans
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Vitamin E failed to reduce lipid peroxidation despite significantly raising plasma levels.
Vitamin E is a classic antioxidant; it’s assumed to neutralize free radicals from omega-3s. This study shows it didn’t—even at high doses (900 IU/day).
Practical Takeaways
If you take high-dose fish oil (6g+ daily), consider discussing antioxidant balance with a healthcare provider.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Vitamin E failed to reduce lipid peroxidation despite significantly raising plasma levels.
Vitamin E is a classic antioxidant; it’s assumed to neutralize free radicals from omega-3s. This study shows it didn’t—even at high doses (900 IU/day).
Practical Takeaways
If you take high-dose fish oil (6g+ daily), consider discussing antioxidant balance with a healthcare provider.
Publication
Journal
Lipids
Year
1997
Authors
J. Allard, R. Kurian, E. Aghdassi, R. Muggli, D. Royall
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Claims (3)
Taking 900 IU of vitamin E daily for six weeks raises levels of vitamin E in the blood of healthy adult men, but it does not lower the increase in certain oxidative stress markers caused by taking omega-3 fatty acids at the same time.
Taking 6.26 grams of n−3 fatty acids from menhaden oil daily for six weeks raises the levels of EPA and DHA in the fatty components of blood cell membranes in healthy adult men.
In healthy adult men, taking 6.26 grams of n−3 fatty acids from menhaden oil daily for six weeks raises levels of malondialdehyde and lipid peroxides in the blood, which are markers of lipid peroxidation, and taking 900 IU of vitamin E daily alongside does not stop this increase.