Recently, a reporter from the China News Network's "Livelihood Investigation Bureau" published an article titled "Is the Explosive 'God Grade Fish Oil' Actually Plant Oil?" which has attracted attention. The reporter purchased multiple popular "deep-sea fish oil" from a live streaming e-commerce platform for testing, and the results were surprising: the Omega-3 content of three products was less than 10%, and the key functional ingredient DHA of two products was not even detected, which is a huge gap from the promotion. How to choose legitimate fish oil products? How should fish oil be eaten? Zhongxin Health has invited multiple experts to provide interpretations. How to choose compliant fish oil? Fish oil, as the name suggests, is an oil extracted from fish, mainly due to its rich content of omega-3 fatty acids, the most famous of which are EPA and DHA. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid): often referred to as the "vascular scavenger", research suggests that it helps reduce triglycerides and regulate blood lipids. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid): known as the brain gold. Known as the 'brain gold', it is an important component of the growth of nervous system cells and plays a crucial role in the development of the brain and vision in infants and young children. In 2007, the former State Food and Drug Administration issued regulations defining high-purity fish oil preparations (drugs) as those containing over 84% n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (i.e. Omega-3 fatty acids). The "Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Abnormal Blood Lipids in Chinese Adults" states that Omega-3 fish oil preparations used for clinical lipid-lowering and other health purposes require a purity of Omega-3 greater than 85% to achieve good results. Even as a regular dietary supplement, the industry consensus requires an Omega-3 content of at least 60%. In addition, according to the "Polyene Fish Oil Products" standard issued by the agricultural department, the content of EPA and DHA in the product must not be less than the labeled amount. Bai Chen, Deputy Chief Physician of the Valve and Atrial Fibrillation Surgery Center at Beijing Anzhen Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, stated that the core purpose of consuming fish oil is to obtain Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, especially EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). To ensure effective intake of core ingredients and avoid excessive intake of other fats, high-purity and high concentration fish oil products should be prioritized. Generally speaking, the purity of Omega-3 is best achieved at 90% or even higher. Should I eat fish oil or not? Several experts unanimously pointed out in interviews that even for real fish oil, consumers must rationally view its efficacy, and improper selection may have the opposite effect. Associate Professor Zhu Yi from the School of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering at China Agricultural University stated that research on EPA and DHA in Omega-3 fatty acids currently suggests that they have an auxiliary effect in reducing triglycerides, and the effect is dose-dependent. But fish oil is not suitable for everyone to take, nor is it suitable for all types of hyperlipidemia. The key lies in its purity and targeted treatment. If taking fish oil with a purity of only 30%, it means consuming 70% of other fats at the same time. For people who need to control their blood lipids, it may actually increase the burden on the body and cause "oil on oil". Zhu Yi said that eating more DHA rich fish such as hairtail and sea bass in daily diet can also supplement relevant nutrients, and there is no need to take additional supplements. The Chinese Nutrition Society's "Reference Intake of Dietary Nutrients for Chinese Residents (2023 Edition)" recommends that the daily intake of EPA+DHA for adults should be between 0.25 grams and 2 grams. Consumers should pay attention to the ingredients and content when making purchases, and make rational judgments. ”Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center, reminded that there is currently insufficient evidence to suggest that eating fish oil can prevent heart disease. The public should be wary of businesses exaggerating their claims as "heart and brain protection drugs". (New Society)