The Study
Determination of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid contents and the oxidation level of fish oil supplements from Bahrain market
This study checked if the fish oil pills you buy in Bahrain actually have the omega-3s they say they do, and if they've gone bad. It didn't test if they make people healthier or sicker — just what's inside the bottle.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Scientists tested 14 fish oil pills sold in Bahrain to see if they had the omega-3s they claimed and if they were spoiled.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 521 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Most pills didn't deliver the omega-3s they promised and may be going rancid, which could make them less healthy or even harmful.
- 2Only 2 out of 14 pills had the right amount of omega-3s.
- 38 pills were oxidized past safe levels.
- 45 pills had too much EPA and not enough DHA.
- 5Only 1 pill had more omega-3s than labeled.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Arab Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences
Year
2023
Authors
Hawra Abdulhussain, Aysha Khonji, Ayla Alsaloom, Hawra Meshaima, Latifa AlKooheji, Mohammed K. Al-Doseri, M. Al-Mannai, A. Freije
Related Content
Claims (6)
Many fish oil supplements sold commercially do not contain the amount of EPA and DHA claimed on their labels, show signs of degraded fats beyond safe limits, and may contain harmful contaminants like heavy metals.
A study of 14 fish oil supplements sold in Bahrain found that most exceeded safety limits for oxidation, and only a small fraction contained the amount of EPA and DHA listed on their labels.
A study found that more than half of fish oil supplements sold in Bahrain had signs of spoilage beyond safe limits, which may reduce their health benefits and increase exposure to potentially harmful chemicals formed during oxidation.
Testing of fish oil supplements in Bahrain found that more than half had high levels of early-stage oxidation markers, but few showed signs of advanced spoilage; however, about one in three still exceeded safety limits for total oxidation.
Testing of fish oil supplements sold in Bahrain found that nearly half had less of the key omega-3 fats (EPA and DHA) than advertised, and some had more EPA but less DHA than labeled, indicating variability in product quality.
A test of 14 fish oil supplements in Bahrain found that only one had more EPA and DHA than stated on the label; most contained less than advertised, suggesting under-delivery is the primary quality issue.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.