Shark Liver Oil is extracted from the livers of deep-water sharks which usually inhabit the cold, non-polluted waters of the sea. Shark liver oil contains a number of substances including alkylglycerol, squalene and squalamine. Alkoxyglycerols is the main active component in shark liver oil. Alkoxyglycerols in mother’s milk is the vital substance that provides infants with protection and immunity against infection as it helps in the continued development of their immune system.

Shark Liver Oil Medical Effects and Benefits

In 1922, 2 Japanese scientist discovered AKGs (alkylglycerols) in sharks caught in the deep unpolluted waters off  New Zealand. Later Scandinavian scientists Dr. Astrid Brohult and his wife Professor Sven Brohult discovered that individuals with weak immune systems became resistant to infection after taking alkyglycerols. Other researches performed by scientists, have shown that shark liver oil stimulates the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells to the normal level and encouraging growth of antibodies.

Alkylglycerols

Alkylglycerols assist  the stem cells in their production of blood, and help strengthen the healthful cells of the body. First clinical use was for treating leukemias, and later to avoid radiation sickness from cancer x-ray treatment. Researcher and physician Astrid Brohult was a Swedish oncologist working with leukemia patients in a children’s hospital. She believed  shark liver oil enhanced the number of white cells for people being treated by radiation, had an inhibitory property on the growth of tumor cells, and decreased radiation injuries. Although the results were inconsistent, some of her patients quickly experienced important developments, including a normalization of white blood cell counts and a striking return of energy. Dr. Astrid Brohult and other researchers continued to study AKGs (alkylglycerols) and quickly proved  that they inhibit cancer proliferation and avoid radiation sickness.  In a study demonstrated that those without alkylglycerols had a 52.1 % injury rate from radiation therapy and those with alkylglycerols had just a 26.3 % injury rate. A study of 100 cancer patients demonstrated that 75 %of them had an increased white blood count despite going through radiation therapy, 15 % had no change, and 10 % had a decrease. In the Proceedings of the American Meeting of Cancer Research in 1992 it was reported that leukemia avoids the immune system from properly forming white blood cells, however, with this oil they seem to “mature” to a proper form more readily. In a study that  working with tumor cultures taken from nine patients, we examined the sensitivity of tumor cells to the effect of alkylglycerols by themselves and in conjunction with chemotherapeutic agents. We found that in all of the patient cultures tested, alkylglycerols enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy. In 6 patients the cancer cell counts decreased dramatically, with over 90 %of the tumor eradicated; 3 people demonstrated increases in sensitivity to the chemotherapy.

The Alkylglycerols (AKGs) found in shark liver oil showed the activity to stimulate macrophages to more effectively destroy, consume, and breakdown germs and damaged cells while strengthening the walls of healthy cells. High doses of AKGs help macrophages participate in a cancer killing mechanism, which enable the macrophages to bind to antibodies on the surface of cancer cells, engulfing and destroying them. The researches to examine the effectiveness of alkylglycerols were done by Scandinavian scientists in the 1970s and 1980s. In a study reported in the “Journal of Cell Physiology“, scientists investigated the cell differentiation-promoting effect of a specific type of alkylglycerols on human colon cancer cells. Therapy with alkylglycerols resulted in a decrease of cellular proliferation and a reduced capacity for cellular invasion. New researches showed that the activation of protein kinase C, an essential step in cell proliferation, can be inhibited by alkylglycerols. Alkylglycerols, by stimulating immune system cells called macrophages, which consume invading germs and damaged cells; and by inhibiting protein kinase C, which is a key regulator of cell growth.

Alkylglycerols directly strengthen the immune system by stimulating production of white blood cells called neutrophils and by activating macrophages. The scientific researches supports the use of 100-150 mg of AKGs daily for general immune system enhancement. A 2005 study conducted in Poland found that shark liver oil during standart therapy can help stimulate the immune system to fight infections better.

Alkoxyglycerols are found in important levels in human breast milk and in the blood-forming organs such as the bone marrow, liver, and spleen. Are a group of 3 natural substances which are involved in the production and stimulation of white blood cells in bone marrow. Mother’s milk contains 33.8% of alkylglycerols, the same type found in shark liver oil, but the percentage of alkylglycerols in shark liver oil is 59.4%. These compounds are especially rich in the colostrum produced  for a few days after birth. In animal-based studies,  dietary alkoxyglycerols have been shown to be transferred from the blood and secreted intact into both colostrum and milk, which in turn, leads to measurable support of immune system components such as the macrophages.

Squalene

Squalene is a derivative of shark liver. Shark liver oil includes 40 % or more of squalene.  (Olive oil includes squalene in concentration of 0.4 – 0.7 %). Lab experiments on animals and human cancer cells confirms squalene’s cancer-fighting activities. Deep-sea sharks have immunity to certain forms of cancer. Sharks have showed the capability to heal their wounds rapidly. In researches performed at the “Smithsonian Institution” in recent years just one malignant tumor was found in over 25,000 sharks. In these sharks squalene disrupts the growth of specific proteins responsible for cell replication in cancer cells. A research reported in the journal “Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention” in Dec 1997 found that squalene may be responsible for disrupting the DNA synthesis sequence that causes cancer cells to grow. In a animal-based study found that a 1% squalene diet lessen a certain type of colon cancer foci by 46%.

Squalene is used in flu vaccines in european countries to help enhance the immune system. The World Health Organization reports that squalene has been used in vaccines since 1997, due to its activity to enhance the body’s natural auto-immune response. Squalene is combined with a surfactant to make an emulsion used as an adjuvant in vaccines. Since 1997, an influenza vaccine (FLUAD, Chiron) which includes approximately  10 mg of squalene per dose, has been approved in health agencies in several European countries. (Squalene by itself is not an adjuvant, however,emulsions of squalene with surfactants do enhance the immune response)

Squalamine

Squalamine is predominantly found in the liver tissue of the deep water shark. When it was discovered in 1993, the compound was reported to exhibit broad-spectrum antibiotic activity. Squalamine shows antiangiogenic activity. Angiogenesis is a function in the body where unwholesome cells develop, their own blood vessel structure in order to nourish and support themselves. Increases the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy medications by promoting tumor cell apoptosis and by decreased angiogenesis. In addition, squalamine showed bactericidal and fungicidal activity and increases the bactericidal effects when used in combination with antibiotic drugs. Laboratory experiments revealed squalamine is also a good antiviral candidate, killing a broad spectrum of human and animal viruses. Researches shows squalamine disrupts the membrane interactions necessary for viral replication. In tissue cultures, squalamine was shown to inhibit the infection of blood vessel cells by the dengue virus, and human liver cells by hepatitis B and D.

Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) or Bitter Gourd is a perennial plant that grows in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, South America, East Africa, and the Caribbean. Chemical compounds of bitter gourd include  its seeds, fruits and to a lesser extent leaves and roots. Alpha and beta-momorcharin are proteins that may be isolated in seeds, fruit and the leaves. Insulin-like polypeptides named p-insulin and alkaloid momordicine could be isolated  from the fruits and seeds. Bitter melon includes a protein, MAP30, that was patented by American researchers in 1996.

Bitter Melon Current Research Findings and Benefits

Natural remedy bitter melon is used for various stomach and intestinal disorders including ulcers, colitis, diabetes, liver disease, psoriasis and as additional therapy for patients with AIDS. Laboratory experiments, a protein in bitter gourd named MAP-30 kills viruses and slows the growth of some cancer cells. According to some research, show that bitter melon extract improves glucose tolerance, decreases blood sugar levels, and reduces HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes. Compounds in bitter melon have been found to activate the AMPK, the protein that regulates glucose uptake. A protein found in bitter melon, momordin, has showed anticancer effect against Hodgkin’s lymphoma in animals. In lab experiments bitter gourd extracts inhibit the capability of HIV to insert its DNA into the chromosomes of human cells.

Diabetes

Researches showed that bitter melon may play a role in controlling the production of insulin, therefore promoting blood sugar control. At least 3 different constituents in have been reported to have hypoglycemic. Charantin, vicine, and polypeptide-P are the three known compounds present in bitter melon that are responsible for its antidiabetic activities. Bitter melon main components interact with the enzyme AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), this enzyme regulates fuel metabolism and facilitates glucose uptake. This protein, known as AMPK, is normally activated in the body through exercise. Although there are drugs that can  activate this protein, this plant provides the same result with no adverse effects. Researches bitter melon has shown that enhances the production of  beta cells by the pancreas, improving the body’s ability to produce insulin. The hypoglycemic components found in plant include a combination of steroidal saponins known as charantins, insulin-like peptides, and alkaloids. In the “Journal of Medicinal Food“, scientists analyzed the effect of  Momordica charantia extracts in diabetic and healthy rats. As a result, bitter melon strongly reduced glucose levels in diabetic rats and showed favorable effects in the regulation of blood glucose in normal rats. In 2007, a study by the “Philippine Department of Health” determined a daily dose of 100 mg per kilogram of body weight is comparable to 2.5 mg/kg of the antidiabetes medication glibenclamide used twice per day. The findings of a 4-week studies, reported in the Jan 2011 issue of the “Journal of  Ethnopharmacology,” significantly decreased blood sugar levels among participants with Type 2 diabetes who took 2000 mg daily.

HIV

In vitro antiviral effect has been showed with bitter melon and its inhibitory effects on HIV integrating into host cells. In vitro research has demonstrated decreased, rates of  T lymphocyte infections with HIV-1 and decreased viral replication in infected cells. Alpha and beta-momorcharin and cucurbitacin B, have been analyzed for anticancer activities. A chemical analog of these proteins has been improved, patented ‘MAP-30’. In one experiment, HIV-infected cells treated with alpha- and beta-momorcharin demonstrated a almost complete loss of viral antigen while normal cells were unaffected.  According to study published in June 2001 edition in the Planta Medica; protein extracted from the ripe seed and fruit  decreased viral protein in HIV-infected cells by 82% and inhibited one process involved in viral replication by 50%.  Scientists at the “New York University School of Medicine” explained that MAP 30 protein is able to slow down HIV-1 infection in T-lymphocytes and monocytes as well as replication of  HIV-1 in infected cells.

Herpes Simplex Virus

Herpes is a common viral infection caused by Herpes Simplex virus. Bitter melon extract has been shown to possess strong antiviral activities stimulate the immune system and activate the body’s natural killer cells to help fight off viruses such as herpes simplex virus 1. In a 1982 study of the effects of bitter melon on the herpes simplex virus-1, MAP30 inhibited the reproduction of the virus, as well as reducing its capability to form plaques. According to certified nutritional consultant Phyllis Balch, Momordica charantia extracts are  more effective than the drug acyclovir at killing strains of herpes virus that are not resistant to acyclovir.

Anticancer

According to research published in the journal” Cancer Research“; bitter melon extract, can be utilized as a dietary supplement for the avoiding of breast cancer. In  study, used human breast cancer cells, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, and primary human mammary epithelial cells as an in vitro model to assess the efficacy of bitter melon extract as an anticancer agent. Bitter melon extract treatment of  breast cancer cells resulted in a significant decrease in cell proliferation and induced apoptotic cell death. When cell death was measured by looking at cell membrane integrity, 80% of the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells had died within 48 hours of therapy with 2 parts bitter melon extract to 100 parts cell culture medium. The scientists found that cell division was partially halted when treated with bitter melon extract for 24 hours. “Our findings suggest that bitter melon extract modulates several signal transduction pathways, which induces breast cancer cell death,” explained scientist Ratna B. Ray, professor in the Department of Pathology at Saint Louis University. Also, there has been one reported case report of a people with gallbladder cancer who drink bitter melon tea daily and lived eight years beyond her life span expectancy. In the case report it was said that she discontinued the tea for several months, during which time the cancer reiterated and was the cause of her death.

Dosage

Typical recommended dose 50 to 100 ml of bitter melon  juice, divided into 2 or 3 doses over the course of the day.

Side Effects

This plant is considered relatively safe for duration of 4 weeks. May have additive effects when taken with other glucose-lowering drugs. Contraindicated during pregnancy. The covering on bitter melon seeds are toxic in children, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and death. More ingestion of the seeds had been linked with headache, fever, and coma. Toxicity caused by overdose has been identified in some animal models, and 2 case have documented near-fatal reactions due to hypoglycemic coma in children. Also, experts said that bitter melon seeds should not be taken by individuals of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern descent with known glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. People who have a deficiency of  glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase can create a problem called favism. This problem causes stomach pain, headaches, fever and coma in the most serious case.

Omega-3’s are long-chain polyunsaturated essential fatty acids that are vital to human health. Its primary components are DHA and EPA. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) is believed to play a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, while DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is the necessary for proper brain and nerve development. DHA is a important fat, making up about 30% of the structural fats in the gray matter of the brain and 97% of the omega-3’s in the brain. The omega-3 fatty acids content of the newborn’s brain is multiplied by 3 to 5 times during the last 3 months of gestation and then increases again by the same level during the first 3 months of life.

DHA Benefits

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is one of the most common fatty acids in the brain. It is a important structural fat in the brain and retina accounting for up to 97 percent of the omega-3 fatty acids in the brain and up to 93 percent of the omega-3 fatty acids in the retina. DHA is also, an vital structural component of heart tissue and naturally found in breastmilk. DHA has a favorable effect on diseases such as arthritis, some cancers, hypertension, thrombosis, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, and depression. DHA deficiencies are associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, unipolar depression, adrenoleukodystrophy, phenylketonuria, and cystic fibrosis. Reduction in omega-3 fatty acid DHA in the brain are associated with cognitive decline during aging and with onset of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. DHA builds cell membranes in the brain and protects against macular degeneration and colon cancer and relieves inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune conditions such as lupus.and rheumatoid arthritis. Whereas EPA is the inhibitor of the enzyme delta-5-desaturase (D5D) that produces arachidonic acid (AA), DHA is an inhibitor of other key enzyme delta-6-desaturase (D6D) that produces the first metabolite from linoleic acid known as gamma linolenic acid.

Pregnancy

It’s essential that pregnant women take in enough Omega-3 and that children in early infancy take in  Omega-3. In the last  three months of pregnancy, the need for omega 3 fatty acids is increased significantly, as this is the stage for brain development in the baby and DHA fatty acids are required. Omega-3 are even more vital during the third trimester, an important time period for fetal brain development. omega-3 fatty acids are also used after birth to make breast milk. A Danish study showed that women with  omega-3 fatty acids intake during pregnancy give birth to babies with normal birth weights and are less prone to giving birth prematurely. DHA is necessary for brain and eye development throughout the life stages. However is especially important during the first 2 years of life and early childhood. Between birth and 5 years of age, the  rain increases almost 3.5 times in mass. During this time it is important hat children consume enough levels of DHA in their diet to support this period of rapid brain and eye growth and development.

Eye Health

The brain, retina and other neural tissues are especially rich in LC-PUFA (long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids). Omega-3 fatty acid DHA comprises approximately 60% of the rod outer segments of the eyes. The retina develops rapidly during the  recent months of pregnancy and the first 6 months of infancy. According to an analysis of several studies performed by scientists at “Harvard School of Public Health” and reported in the journal “Pediatrics“, the researchers found that healthy pre-term infants who were fed DHA-supplementation formula demonstrated significantly better visual acuity at 2 and 4 months of age, compared with similar pre-term infants who were fed formula that did not include the omega-3 supplementation.

New findings showed  that higher intake of omega-3 fatty acid DHA  is associated with lower risk for progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration. A 2009 National Eye Institute study that used data obtained from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study found individuals who reported the highest level of omega-3 fatty acids in their diet were 30 % lower probably than their peers to develop macular degeneration during a 12-year period. Findings of several studies, including one reported in the Feb 2001 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicate that eating high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids may help promote macular health. Researches also show that omega-3 fatty acids can help lessen dry eye syndrome, a chronic eye disease caused by a reduce in tear production or increase in tear evaporation.

Brain

Researchers, (the University of  Kuopia, and at Harvard Medical School) examined at the incidence of silent brain damage in approximately 3,500 people age 65 or older. Eating tuna or other non-fried fish was associated with a 25 percent less risk of these abnormalities, which are linked to higher rates of stroke and cognitive decline.

Omega-3 fatty acid DHA is also necessary for maintenance of normal brain function in adults. It is a component of several prominent phospholipids in the brain, with the highest levels of DHA being found in phosphatidyl-serine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Docosahexaenoic acid is taken up by the brain in preference to other fatty acids. DHA which reduces oxidative stress and enhances synaptic plasticity and learning and memory is the most abundant omega-3 in cell membranes in the brain. Omega 3 fatty acids concentrations influence the production of neurotrophic factors, which regulate the growth of new brain cells.

Experts believe the omega-3 DHA is preventive against Alzheimer’s and dementia. Individuals with Alzheimer’s have important lower levels of omega-3 fatty acid DHA in the neurons of their hippocampus, an area of the brain severely affected in the disease. This region is critical to creating recent memories. In a study  reported in 1991 in Lipids, a group of Swedish researchers found that levels of omega-3 fatty acid DHA were lower in brain samples of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease compared to healthy geriatric patients. In the Farmingham Heart Study, people with the maximum levels of  DHA experienced a 47 % decrease in risk of dementia and a 39% decrease in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists have pinpointed the mechanism behind omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D3 ability to increase the immune system’s capability to clear the brain of amyloid plaques that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. In a  preliminary study reported in the February edition of the “Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease”, the researchers identified key genes and signaling networks regulated by vitamin D3 and the DHA that may help control inflammation and improve plaque clearance. “Our new study sheds further light on a possible role for nutritional substances such as vitamin D3 and omega-3 in boosting immunity to help fight Alzheimer’s,” explained Dr. Milan Fiala, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.  Vitamin D, omega-3 may help clear amyloid.

Anti-inflammatory

Omega-3 fatty acid DHA seems to reduce inflammation in the body by suppressing a certain enzyme (COX-2) and inflammatory chemicals such as IL-1 (interleukin-1) and TNF (tumor necrosis factor). New researches  show that DHA has a significant inhibitory activity on the expression of cytokines in endothelial cells, which suppress the inflammatory process and may inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis. In a experiment that used human blood samples, DHA+EPA intake changed the expression of 1040 genes and resulted in a reduced expression of genes involved in inflammatory and atherogenesis-related pathways, such as nuclear transcription factorkB signaling, eicosanoid synthesis, scavenger receptor activity, adipogenesis, and hypoxia signaling.

Increased blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with lower levels of compounds linked to inflammation and heart illness. A study by Professor Manohar Garg from the “University of Newcastle” found that increased blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA  and EPA were associated with decreased levels of C-reactive protein. A recent study examined the association between omega-3 fatty acids and risk factors for different chronic diseases. The findings demonstrated  that increased levels of DHA and EPA were associated with reduced levels of several disease biomarkers. The researchers showed that increased RBC levels of DHA and EPA correlated with reduced levels of triglycerides and  C-reactive protein (CRP).

Depression

Serotonin and dopamine, which are receptors and neurotransmitters in the brain, are composed of omega-3 fatty acid DHA. The human brain is composed of over 60 percent fat and its primary fat is DHA. A healthy brain contains more than 20 g of omega-3 fatty acid DHA; and  is an vital component of neuronal membranes. The main function of brain cells is to transmit neurotransmitters. When brain cells fail to transmit these chemicals (such as serotonin) effectively, the sequel can be of psychiatric disease, including depression. Omega-3 fatty acids may improve brain function by making brain cell membranes more fluid.

More intake of omega-3 fatty acid DHA and EPA is linked with increased gray matter volume in brain regions controlling depression and mood. Dr. Sarah M. Conklin explained a study showing that the amount of omega-3 fatty acid consumed in the diet may cause positive anatomical changes in areas of the brain that regulate emotion. Fifty-five healthy adults had MRI scans to determine the volume of gray matter in specific brain regions. The more the intake of omega-3 fatty acids, the larger was the volume of gray matter in the anterior cingulate cortex, a brain area controlling emotion and mood and implicated in depression. “We were able to show that individuals who consumed more omega-3 fatty acids in their diets had more gray matter volume in areas of the brain important for regulating mood,” Dr. Conklin says. Dr. Andrew Stoll, has done some of studies using omega-3 fatty acids in depression and bi-polar disorder. Dr. Stoll showed that  omega-3 fatty acids may inhibit neuronal signal transduction pathways in a manner similar to that of lithium.

In a 2006 study reported in the January edition of “Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica”, 16 new mothers with postpartum depression took 0.5 to 2.8 g of EPA/DHA daily for 8 weeks. Depression scores decreased approximately 50% in all groups. When 20 menopausal women with major depression took 2 grams of  DHA and EPA daily for 8 weeks, 70% found their mood developed, and 45% found their depression went into remission. Mean scores on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale dropped from 24.2 to 10.7. In a study conducted in 2011,  medical students who took a daily omega-3 supplement containing 348 milligrams DHA and 2,085 milligrams of EPA for 12 weeks had a 20 percent decrease in anxiety compared with students who took a placebo. A multi-center study in the USA showed that supplement with 900 milligrams of  DHA/day was associated with developed earning and memory function in adults whose cognitive performance had declined.

Heart

Data from the MRFIT study have indicated that increasing intakes of EPA+DHA up to 700 mg/day are associated with overall reductions in all-cause as well as coronary disease-related mortality. Omega-3 fatty acids inhibit the production of thromboxane A2 and inflammatory cytokines. Both of these changes tend to reduce the tendency of blood to clot, which should the risk of a fatal heart attack. According to researches involving patients suffering from cardiovascular such as myocardial infarction and rhythm disorders, omega-3 fatty acids were responsible for decreasing  mortality by 20% to 56%.  Omega-3 fatty acid DHA has been shown to lower triglyceride. This can decrease the risk of heart disease. New findings show that taking 3 grams daily of pure omega-3 fatty acid DHA produce a 30-40% more decrease in triglyceride levels in plasma than a corresponding amount of EPA.

Anticancer

EPA and DHA induced programmed cell death in colon cancer cells and prostate cancer cells, and omega-3 fatty acid DHA supplementation decreased tumor size in a mouse model of cancer. A study in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention suggests a decreased risk in breast and colorectal cancer with increased DHA and EPA intake. Preliminary studies suggest that taking omega-3 daily may help slow the progression of colon cancer in people with early stages of the disease. Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have found that eating omega-3 fatty acids regularly can result in prevention of colon polyp formation.

DHA Food Sources List

DHA is present in salmon, tuna, mackerel, trout, halibut, sardines, and herring. Algae usually provides just DHA.

Dosage

The American Heart Association recommends consuming 1–3 g per day of DHA and EPA. Several studies documenting the positive effects of omega-3s have been conducted with supplemental daily dosages between 2 to 5 gr of DHA and EPA, more than could get in 2 servings of fish a week. The European Perilip Group of clinicians and experts in omega-3 research, currently recommend  minimum 200 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acid DHA per day during pregnancy and lactation. 300mg/day of omega-3 fatty acid DHA for pregnant and lactating women was the recommendation by a workshop sponsored by the National Institutes of  Health and International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids. A dose of 2-4 g of DHA+EPA per day  may lower very high triglycerides by 20 % to 50 %. 800 mg DHA and 1,600 mg EPA/day in adults provides an development in sustained attention, reduces errors in attention tests and provides developments in reaction times measured by electromyography. A new study of healthy older adults with mild memory problems found that supplement with 900 milligrams  of  DHA daily developed their memory. (Oily fish can include high levels of toxic pesticides, dioxins, PCB’s, or heavy metals such as mercury and lead. Therefore, choose just brands of fish oil that are molecularly distilled or otherwise guaranteed to be free of toxic contaminants).