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Something I had never thought of... I'll go with refined fish oils.
Identification of unresolved complex mixtures (UCM) of hydrocarbons in commercial fish oil supplements.
AuthorsReid AJ, et al. Show all Journal
J Sci Food Agric. 2014 May 15. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6741. [Epub ahead of print]
Affiliation
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Heightened awareness of the health benefits of fish oil consumption has lead to a great increase in the number of fish oil supplements available to the consumer. Therefore, manufactures are continually looking for ways to distinguish their product from competitors. Minimally refined or virgin fish oils provide a unique feature; however, petroleum hydrocarbon contamination from oil spills is a reality in the world's oceans. The question arises whether oil produced from fish species caught in these polluted areas is free of petroleum hydrocarbons, with particular interest in unresolved complex mixtures (UCM). This study investigates the presence of UCM in commercially available fish oil supplements advertised as being virgin, as well as refined.
RESULTS: Weathered petroleum hydrocarbons in the form of UCM were found at 523 µg g(-1) in a virgin Alaskan salmon oil supplement. Supplements that were refined were free of this contamination.
CONCLUSION: Fish used in the production of fish oil supplements appear to have accumulated petrogenic hydrocarbons in their tissues which were not removed by minimal oil refining. Further study is required to determine if there are any health implications associated with long-term consumption of these contaminated supplements.
Identification of unresolved complex mixtures (UCM) of hydrocarbons in commercial fish oil supplements.
AuthorsReid AJ, et al. Show all Journal
J Sci Food Agric. 2014 May 15. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6741. [Epub ahead of print]
Affiliation
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Heightened awareness of the health benefits of fish oil consumption has lead to a great increase in the number of fish oil supplements available to the consumer. Therefore, manufactures are continually looking for ways to distinguish their product from competitors. Minimally refined or virgin fish oils provide a unique feature; however, petroleum hydrocarbon contamination from oil spills is a reality in the world's oceans. The question arises whether oil produced from fish species caught in these polluted areas is free of petroleum hydrocarbons, with particular interest in unresolved complex mixtures (UCM). This study investigates the presence of UCM in commercially available fish oil supplements advertised as being virgin, as well as refined.
RESULTS: Weathered petroleum hydrocarbons in the form of UCM were found at 523 µg g(-1) in a virgin Alaskan salmon oil supplement. Supplements that were refined were free of this contamination.
CONCLUSION: Fish used in the production of fish oil supplements appear to have accumulated petrogenic hydrocarbons in their tissues which were not removed by minimal oil refining. Further study is required to determine if there are any health implications associated with long-term consumption of these contaminated supplements.
