Holland & Barratt Super EPA Fish Oil Concentrate

...and have decided to try Holland & Barrett's Super EPA Fish Oil Concentrate.


**** What is Omega 3? ****
The chemistry of Omega 3 is complex (and I am no chemist) but to summarise, and simplify, the Omega 3 parent fatty acid is called alphalinoic acid or ALA. In this are two active ingredients called Eicosapentaenoic Acid or EPA and Docosahexaenoic Acid or DHA.

DHA is thought to constitute the building blocks ...
...principle reason for choosing the Holland and Barrett' s capsules over the others was that the high concentration of both EPA and DHA means he only needs to take one capsule per day to have the equivalent dose to taking two or three capsules of other brands. This of course has two advantages; one being you don't need to buy so frequently and secondly he only needs to be persuaded to swallow one each day.

**** Packaging ****
... more

The end of term school report last Christmas for my eldest son said in effect that he didn't concentrate enough. This prompted me to wonder if there was anything I could be doing to help but without producing a long teenage sulk. Like many, I have read newspaper and magazine reports on the benefits of fish oil, and in particular Omega3, in aiding concentration and improving the behaviour of children.

Given that my son eats zero oily fish I decided that supplements were going to have to be looked into. Omega 3 is available in capsules or liquid form but I have bad memories of cod liver oil so I only researched the capsules. I spent ages reading and comparing the labels of the many different products on shop shelves and have decided to try Holland & Barrett's Super EPA Fish Oil Concentrate.

**** What is Omega 3? ****
The chemistry of Omega 3 is complex (and I am no chemist) but to summarise, and simplify, the Omega 3 parent fatty acid is called alphalinoic acid or ALA. In this are two active ingredients called Eicosapentaenoic Acid or EPA and Docosahexaenoic Acid or DHA.

DHA is thought to constitute the building blocks of the brain and is particularly important for maintaining memory. EPA is a vital nutrient in the functioning of the brain and for nerve stimulation. EPA also has anti-inflammatory benefits and can be used to maintain healthy joints, heart and circulation.

Fish themselves do not produce Omega 3; they get it from the plankton on which they feed. Fish with particularly high levels of Omega 3 are known as oily fish and the best examples are salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna. There are also small amounts of Omega 3 in meat and eggs. The government recommends eating at least two portions of oily fish a week. If you are vegetarian omega 3 can also be found in flax seed oil, rape seed oil, walnuts, tofu and some dark green leafy vegetables.

**** Why I chose this product ****
One principle reason for choosing the Holland and Barrett' s capsules over the others was that the high concentration of both EPA and DHA means he only needs to take one capsule per day to have the equivalent dose to taking two or three capsules of other brands. This of course has two advantages; one being you don't need to buy so frequently and secondly he only needs to be persuaded to swallow one each day.

**** Packaging ****
They come in a dark brown plastic container with a white label all round with details of the contents together with an actual size outline of the capsule. It has a white plastic lid which you need to tear the tab off and then flip the lid up. Inside is a papery plastic seal which has to be torn off to get to the contents. This was a bit fiddly and I had to resort to slicing it off with a sharp knife. My main concern is that once opened this container has no child proof lid and although it is not marketed at children this does make me uneasy.

**** What the capsules look like ****
These capsules are oval in shape and measure about 2.5cm long and about 1cm across, which I call quite large. They are a translucent pale yellow in colour with a squashy rubbery feel. If you slice it with a sharp knife (which I only did for the purpose of this review!) it is full of the oil which tastes, not surprisingly, of raw fish and is definitely not nice.

**** Nutritional values ****
Each capsule contains1000mg fish oil, of which 300mg is EPA and 200 mg is DHA and 6.71mg vitamin E. This is 70% of an adults RDA for vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant which mops up the free radicals in the body which are produced by the body's normal chemical reactions and are thought to damage body cells. It would appear there are no recommended daily allowances established for EPA or DHA.

**** Ingredients ****
The ingredients are fish oil, capsule shell (gelatine & glycerine), Vitamin E (as di-Alpha Tocopherol).

**** How to use ****
The directions on the container say take one to three capsules daily preferably with a meal. Do not exceed stated dose. There is no mention of a child dosage.

*** Cautions ***
The label says the product should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet. Pregnant or lactating women should consult a doctor before using any product. If you are under medical supervision, please consult a doctor before use. Discontinue use and consult a doctor if adverse reactions occur.

**** Price ****
I paid £11.30 for 90 capsules which is not cheap and these are only available from Holland and Barrett stores. There are much cheaper products on the market. You can shop with Holland and Barrett online if there is not a store near you and they do have frequent special offers both in store and online.

**** My opinion ***
Vegetarians may not wish to use these capsules as they are made with gelatine but I have noticed that some other brands do say suitable for vegetarians.

As I have already said I am concerned about the safety aspect of the lid. A certain amount of finger strength is required to flip the lid up but this does not make it child proof.

This product is not marketed specifically for children, so for those with small children this may not be the one to choose. The dosage may be too high and the capsules simply too big for a small child to swallow and if they are chewed they taste disgusting.

I started by giving my son two capsules each day for about a month and then reduced to just one capsule per day.

One unexpected benefit evident after only about 6 weeks was that his eczema had all but disappeared and he no longer needed to use steroid creams daily. His doctor is ambivalent as to whether this was due to the fish oil but my son has had eczema for the last 10 years with nothing completely clearing it up - until now.

The school report two terms later was better with one teacher commenting that his approach to work has matured - although that could mean anything you want it to. Whether this improvement is due to the fish oil capsules I can't be certain but it is simple to do and although not cheap it is cheaper than a private tutor and with GCSE's looming every little helps.

This is of course not a scientific study and I can only speak as I find, but my son is happy to continue with these until after GCSE's next summer and with the improvement in eczema he may continue for longer.

Sorry this review end up rather long but I hope some one may find it helpful.

Holland and Barrett Retail Ltd
Nuneaton
Warwickshire, CV11 6XW

www. Hollandandbarrett.com

 

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